310 


531 


DWIGHT  C.  KILBOURN 
No. 


/c 


/c 
HISTORY 


OF  THE 


13TH  INFANTRY  REGIMENT 


OF 


CONNECTICUT     VOLUNTEERS, 


DURING    THE 


REBELLION 


HOMER  B.  SjPRAGUE, 


PRINCIPAL  OF  THE    CONNECTICUT    STATE  NOEMAL  SCHOOL,  NEW  BEITAIN, 
CONNECTICUT. 


HARTFORD,  CONN. 
CASE,    LOCKWOOD    &    CO. 

1867. 


5 


3  7 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1867, 

BY  HOMER  B.  SPRAGUE, 
In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  Connecticut. 


PREFACE 


The  following  history  was  undertaken  near  the  close  of 
the  year  1865,  at  the  request  of  a  certain  publishing  house, 
while  the  author  was  still  actively  engaged  in  military  duties 
in  the  State  of  Georgia.  It  was  substantially  completed 
and  ready  for  publication  on  the  return  of  the  Veteran  Bat 
talion  to  New  York,  May  1,  1866,  and  was  soon  afterwards 
placed  in  the  hands  of  the  intended  publishers.  Various  cir 
cumstances  caused  long  delays,  and  it  finally  became  neces 
sary  to  entrust  it  to  the  enterprising  firm  which  now  issues 
it  to  the  public. 

The  book  never  would  have  been  commenced,  but  for  the 
earnest  and  repeated  solicitations  of  the  officers  and  friends 
of  the  regiment.  It  was  composed  at  intervals  in  the  midst 
of  pressing  duties  and  in  spite  of  serious  discouragements  ; 
and,  although  the  author  had  collected  many  materials,  the 
work  was  found  to  be  so  laborious  that  it  would  often  have 
been  at  the  point  of  abandonment,  had  he  not  been  deeply 
impressed  with  a  conviction  that  some  permanent  record 
ought  to  be  made  of  the  remarkable  services  of  this  regi 
ment.  Some  public  tribute,  too,  was  due  to  the  memory  of 
those  brave  men,  our  departed  compatriots,  who  gave  up 
their  lives  so  freely  in  battle,  in  hospital,  or  in  prison,  and 
whose  heroic  deeds  ought  to  be  inwoven  with  the  legible  his 
tory  of  the  republic  which  they  died  to  save. 

M198521 


IV 

The  regimental  narrative  is  based  mainly  on  the  author's 
private  diary  —  The  "  Life  and  Sufferings  of  Captain 
Sprague."  So  far  as  the  events  came  under  his  personal 
observation  he  is  quite  confident  of  the  essential  correctness 
of  the  statements ;  but  even  here,  he  dares  not  hope  he  has 
escaped  all -errors.  Jotted  down  at  odd  moments,  in  the 
midst  of  weary  marches,  on  picket  duty,  on  horseback,  in 
the  rain  ;  sometimes  by  the  light  of  blazing  buildings,  often 
in  presence  of  hissing  bullets,  as  during  our  six  weeks  at 
Port  Hudson  ;  undoubtedly  mistaken  impressions  may  have 
been  recorded.  Having  been  present,  however,  in  every 
battle,  skirmish,  siege,  and  march,  in  which  the  regiment 
was  engaged,  until  the  nineteenth  of  September,  1864,  when 
he  had  the  misfortune  to  charge  too  far  and  hold  his  position 
too  long,  and  so  fell  into  tlje  enemy's  hands,  the  author  fears 
more  that  his  observations  may  lack  breadth  than  that  they 
may  be  wanting  in  distinctness. 

For  the  history  of  the  Thirteenth  during  the  six  months 
of  the  author's  imprisonment,  the  statements  of  Messrs 
Blinn,  Bradley,  Perkins,  Clary  and  Clark  have  been  his 
main  reliance  ;  though  others  furnished  important  facts.  It 
was  contemplated  at  first  to  publish  the  story  of  that  impris 
onment,  but  it  was  found  that  it  would  swell  the  volume 
beyond  the  assigned  limits. 

This  work  has  been  its  own  reward.  At  every  step  it 
has  brought  vividly  to  remembrance  the  dark  realities  and 
the  bright  romance  of  war.  As  in  a  grand  panorama  the 
scenes  and  experiences  of  other  days  again  passed  succes 
sively  through  the  mind, — the  dreary  barracks,  the  rolling 
ship,  the  luxurious  city,  the  rapid,  exhausting  marches,  the 


blistered  and  bleeding  feet,  the  scorching  sun,  the  rainy 
nights  passed  without  shelter,  the  sickness  that  wasted  or 
convulsed  the  stoutest  frames  ;  the  rush,  the  frenzy,  the  fas 
cinating  pomp,  the  terrible  energy  of  battle ;  the  wheeling 
and  plunging  of  cavalry,  the  thundering  of  batteries,  the 
steady  and  resistless  charge  of  infantry  ;  the  thrilling  shout 
of  victory ;  the  unutterable  magnificence  of  midnight  bom 
bardments  ;  the  patient  endurance,  the  triumphant  faith,  and 
the  beautiful  patriotism  of  those  suffering  in  hospital ;  the 
slow  martyrdom  in  rebel  prisons  of  those  brave  soldiers  of 
the  Thirteenth  who  would  not  turn  traitor  to  save  their 
lives,  but  deliberately  chose  rather  to  die  by  inches,  of  cold 
and  hunger ;  and  then  the  thousand  interchanges  of  kindly 
sympathies ;  the  warm  friendships  ;  the  story,  the  wit,  the 
songs  of  love  and  home  and  country  around  blazing  camp- 
fires  ;  and,  to  crown  all,  the  satisfaction  of  having  done  what 
one  could  for  God,  for  Freedom,  and  for  the  Great  Re 
public  ! 

To  keep  alive  in  the  breasts  of  the  survivors  those  feel 
ings,  to  perpetuate  those  friendships,  to  rekindle  those  me 
mories,  to  collect  and  preserve  in  permanent  form  the  pic 
tures  of  those  scenes,  and  so  to  add  one  drop  to  the  great 
current  of  liberty-loving  and  patriotic  sentiment  that  is  bear 
ing  our  country  on  to  her  sublime  destiny,  this  little  book  is 
respectfully  dedicated  to  his  former  companions  in  arms,  the 
surviving  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  glorious  Thirteenth,  by 

THE  AUTHOR. 

New  Britain,  Conn.,  August  16,  1867. 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTER   I. 

PAGE. 

Circumstances  and  time  of  the  raising  of  the  Regiment. 
Brief  notices  of  the  original  officers. — Life  in  the 
New  Haven  barracks. — Embarkation  for  Ship  Jsland.  35 


CHAPTER    II. 

At  sea  for  twenty  days. — Life  on  Ship  Island. — Up  the 
Mississippi  to  New  Orleans. — Occupation  of  the  Cus 
tom  House  ;  Slavery  ;  Butler's  Rule  ;  Expeditions  ; 
Flag  Presentation,  &c.  -  -  73 

CHAPTER    III. 

Camp  Kearney. — The  LaFourche  Campaign. — Battle 
of  Georgia  Landing. — Foraging,  &c. — Explosion  of 
Ammunition  Car. — To  Baton  Rouge. — Passage  of 
the  Forts  at  Port  Hudson  and  Midnight  Bombard 
ment.— To  Brashear  City. — Battle  of  Irish  Bend.— 
Hospital.  -  -  121 

CHAPTER    IV. 

Pursuit  up  theTeche. — Sirnsport. — Music. — Free  Fight. 
To  Port  Hudson. — Siege  of  Port  Hudson. — Assaults. 
Storming  Column. — Surrender. — Effects  of  the  Siege.  173 


V1I1 

CHAPTER     V. 

PAGE, 

Second  LaFourche  Occupation. — Re-enlistment  as  Vet 
eran  Volunteers. — Red  River  Expedition. — Guerril 
las. — Battle  of  Monet's  Ford. — Alexandria. — Battles 
of  Marksville  and  Mansura. — Veteran  Furlough. — 
Return  to  New  Haven.  -  219 

CHAPTER    VI. 

To  the  Shenandoah  Valley. — Battle  of  Berryville. — 
Battle  of  the  Ope^pan.— Battle  of  Fisher's  Hill.— 
Battle  of  Middletown. — Consolidation  of  Regiment 
and  Muster-out  of  a  portion. — To  Savannah. — To 
Newbern. — To  Savannah  again. — To  Augusta. — 
Life  in  Augusta. — To  Northern  Georgia. — To  At 
lanta. — Muster-out.  -  -  -  -  -  -  259 


APPENDIX. 

List   of    Officers   and    Men. — Official    Report. — Case   of 
Slave  Caroline. — General  Index. 


History  of  the  Thirteenth  Connecticut, 


CHAPTER  I. 

WHAT  true  American  can  ever  forget  those  dark 
days  that  followed*the  first  battle  of  Manassas !  how 
the  nation  was  bewildered,  blinded,  stunned  for  an 
hour,  by  that  unexpected  blow  !  what  thrills  of 
shame  and  rage  tingled  in  every  nerve  of  the  body 
politic  !  witli  what  frantic  energy  it  then  began  to  gird 
itself  for  a  death  grapple  with  the  monster  Rebellion ! 
how  beautiful  the  first  flashes  of  a  million  bayonets  in 
the  northern  sky ! 

Of  all  the  regiments  in  that  vast  host,  few,  if  any, 
were  more  patriotic  or  more  brave  than  the  Thirteenth 
Connecticut.  Not  with  hot  haste  or  mad  excitement, 
not  with  noisy  or  glittering  parade,  nor  yet  with  lavish 
outlay  of  money,  did  its  officers  collect  a  thoughtle& 
or  mercenary  throng.  But  uniting  ardent  zeal  with 
a  cool  estimate  of  the  dangers  and  sacrifices,  and 
holding  up  to  view  the  great  issues  of  Religion,  Lib 
erty,  Civilization  and  Union,  they  made  deliberate 
selection  of  their  men.  The  day  of  bounties  had  not 
come.  Conscription  had  not  been  thought  of.  The 
romance  of  a  march  "  On  to  Richmond  "  had  van 
ished.-  The  holiday  of  McDowell's  army  had  closed 
with  fireworks  that  rained  blood  and  death.  The 
2 


"t'OiLs/'W  10 

giant  nation  would  play  with   rebellion  no   longer. 
War,  grim-visaged,  hideous,  confronted  the  soldier. 

No  man  has  a  right  to  engage  in  sanguinary  com 
bat,  unless  he  feels  that  he  fights  for  what  is  more 
precious  than  life.  Liable  at  any  moment  to  inflict 
and  suffer  death,  executioner  at  once  and  martyr,  his 
position  is  inconceivably  solemn.  With  many  excep 
tions,  there  was  yet  in  the  breasts  of  our  officers  and 
soldiers  generally  a  deep  sense  of  this  responsibility. 
"  I  selected  men,"  said  Cromwell,  "  who  made  some 
conscience  of  what  they  did;  and,  after  that,  they 
never  were  beaten  !"  A  like  praise  deserves  this 
regiment,  which,  having  volunteered  from  a  sense  of 
duty,  in  four  years  of  active  service  never  mutinied, 
never  shrunk  from  danger,  never  retreated  a  step  with 
out  orders  from  a  general  officer,  never  murmured  at 
hardships — a  regiment  whose  brilliant  charges  wrested 
victory  from  the  enemy  on  more  than  one  closely-con 
tested  field,  and  whose  heroism  at  Labadieville,  Irish 
Bend,  Cane  River,  Marksville,  Mansura  and  especially 
at  that  great  "  slaughter  pen,"  Port  Hudson,  was  the 
boast  of  the  whole  Army  of  the  Gulf.  If  the  life  of 
every  individual  is  full  of  interest  to  one  who  knows 
the  inner  as  well  as  the  outer  acts,  surely  the  narra 
tive  of  a  regiment  intensely  engaged  in  this  terrific 
struggle  rnay  claim  attention  at  least  from  the  friends 
of  those  who  fought  in  its  ranks.  And  so,  while 
master  artists  are  picturing  for  all  the  world  the  his 
tory  of  this  unparalleled  rebellion,  and  wisest  states 
men  and  profoundest  philosophers  are  solving  for  all 
time  its  momentous  problems,  a  brief  hour  may  per 
haps  not  unprofitably  be  given  by  many  to  the  hum- 


11 

bier  yet  not  insignificant  story  of  the  Thirteenth  Con 
necticut. 


Colonel  Henry  W.  Birge,  of  Norwich,  was  a  mer 
chant  before  the  war.  He  had  been  Major  in  the 
Fourth  Connecticut  Infantry  (afterwards  the  First 
Heavy  Artillery)  from  May  23d,  1861,  Nov.  2d, 
1861,  he  received  his  commission  as  Colonel  of  the 
Thirteenth  Connecticut.  During  this  preparatory 
training  he  had  displayed  a  decided  taste  and  aptness 
for  military  pursuits.  He  was  a  rigid  disciplinarian, 
a  quick  observer,  well  drilled,  dignified,  courteous, 
brave,  fond  of  making  a  good  show,  and  possessing 
in  a  remarkable  degree  the  gift  of  silence.  Every 
inch  a  soldier,  he  made  his  subalterns  understand  at 
the  outset  that  the  Thirteenth  was  to  be  the  best  regi 
ment,  best  looking,  best  drilled,  fastest  marching  and 
hardest  fighting,  and  he  spared  no  pains  to  accom 
plish  that  object. 

Except  in  the  summer  of  1862,  when  he  was  in 
command  of  the  forces  in  New  Orleans,  he  was  with 
us  personally  nearly  all  the  time  until  January,  1863, 
when  he  assumed  charge  of  our  brigade  at  Baton 
Rouge,  La.  On  the  19th  of  September,  1863,  he 
received  his  appointment  as  Brigadier,  which  was 
confirmed  by  the  Senate  at  its  following  session.  He 
was  afterwards  brevetted  Major-General  for  gallant 
and  distinguished  services  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley. 

Since  the  war  he  has  been  a  lumber  merchant  in 
Savannah,  Ga. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Alexander  Warner  of  Wood 
stock,  Conn.,  was  a  manufacturer  of  twine.  He  had 
served  creditably  as  Major  of  the  Third  Connecticut 


12 

in  the  summer  of  1861.  A  severe  attack  of  inflam 
matory  rheumatism,  brought  on  by  the  cold  and 
dampness  of  the  New  Haven  barracks,  which  he 
shared  equally  with  the  private  soldiers,  deprived  us 
of  his  presence  during  most  of  the  winter  of  1861-2 
and  the  whole  of  the  following  spring.  He  was 
mustered-in  on  the  ninth  of  April.  He  rejoined  us 
about  the  first  of  June,  1862. 

Colonel  Warner  was  an  active,  energetic  officer,  and 
the  drills  he  gave  the  regiment  were  valuable  in  pre 
paring  it  for  the  field.  He  was  a  clear-headed  business 
man,  attentive  to  the  comfort  of  the  soldiers  and  desir 
ous  of  securing  to  them  their  rights.  In  June,  1863, 
while  the  regiment  was  at  Port  Hudson,  being  absent 
-in  New  Orleans  on  "sick  leave,"  he  was  assigned  to 
the  task  of  raising  a  battalion  for  the  defence  of  that 
city.  This  service  he  performed  with  skill  and 
energy.  He  resigned  his  commission  and  was  honor 
ably  discharged  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  July,  1863. 
He  immediately  accepted  a  position  as  special  agent 
of  the  Treasury  Department  at  New  Orleans,  which  he 
held  until  recently.  He  is  understood  to  be  now  cul 
tivating  a  cotton  plantation  in  Mississippi. 

Major  Richard  E.  Holcomb,  of  East  Granby,  Conn., 
had  also  served  honorably  in  the  three  months'  cam 
paign  of  1861  as  Quartermaster  of  the  Third  Con 
necticut.  Before  the  war  he  was  a  railroad  contrac 
tor.  He  was  a  man  of  remarkable  force  of  body  and 
mind.  Soon  after  we  reached  New  Orleans  he  was 
selected  by  General  Butler  to  raise  a  regiment  of 
Louisiana  men.  This  was  the  First  Louisiana  a 
white  regiment,  of  which  he  was  commissioned 
Colonel  on  the  sixteenth  of  August,  1862.  On  the 


13 

X 

fatal  fourteenth  of  June,  1863,  at  Port  Hudson,  he 
fell  at  the  head  of  the  assaulting  column  in  a  charge 
upon  the  rebel  stronghold.  The  Thirteenth  always 
loved  his  memory,  and  regarded  him  as  one  of  their 
own  number.  There  was  a  rugged  grandeur  in  his 
stern  yet  generous  nature,  a  rough  strength,  an 
unyielding  determination,  a  heroic  soul ;  and  when 
his  scattered  brains  besprinkled  the  van  of  our  regi 
ment  on  that  day  of  horrors,  a  cruel  pang  tore  our 
breasts,  for  we  felt  that  the  bravest  of  our  brave  had 
fallen. 

Adjutant  William  M.  Grosvenor,  of  New  Haven, 
was  local  editor  of  the  New  Haven  Palladium  at  the 
breaking  out  of  hostilities.  To  the  performance  of 
the  duties  of  adjutant  he  brought  signal  ability.  He 
united  untiring  industry  and  an  iron  constitution 
with  quickness  of  insight,  clearness  of  comprehension, 
and  an  unwonted  energy.  On  the  31st  of  December, 
1862,  he  was  promoted  to  be  Captain  of  Co.  D.  On 
the  14th  of  June,  1863,  he  was  shot  through  the  arm 
at  Port  Hudson.  On  the  29th  of  October,  1863,  he 
was  mustered  as  Colonel  of  the  Second  Regiment 
Louisiana  Native  Guards  (colored).  After  the  war 
he  was  for  a  time  one  of  the  editors  of  the  New 
Haven  Journal  and  Courier.  Recently  he  has 
assumed  the  editorial  charge  of  the  Missouri  Demo 
crat  at  St.  Louis,  where  he  is  a  decidedly  rising  man. 

At  mention  of  Quartermaster  Joseph  B.  Bromley, 
of  Norwich,  a  smile  infallibly  overspreads  the  counte 
nance  of  every  member  of  the  Thirteenth.  His  inex 
haustible  wit  and  humor  were  irrepressible  on  all 
occasions,  and  many  good  jokes  and  amusing  inci- 


14 

dents  are  related  of  him.  He  was  not  less  funny  than 
his  younger  brother  "  Ike,"  editor  of  the  Norwich 
Bulletin.  Those  who  only  knew  of  his  mirth  and 
facetiousness,  however,  only  half  knew  him.  He  had 
a  vein  of  serious  thought,  a  keen  conscience  that 
never  allowed  him  to  do  wrong  with  impunity,  and  an 
unwavering  belief  in  the  great  doctrines  of  the  Chris 
tian  religion.  His  heart  was  as  pure  and  warm  as 
ever  beat  in  human  breast.  Whatever  conduct  seemed 
questionable  was  the  result  of  his  desire  to  make  his 
regiment  comfortable,  or  to  gratify  the  fun-loving 
propensities  of  his  associates.  His  services  ended 
with  his  resignation  on  the  29th  of  December,  1863. 
He  was  afterwards  located  at  Thibodaux,  La.,  as  a 
special  agent  of  the  Treasury  Department,  or,  as  he 
termed  it,  "  A  snapper-up  of  unconsidered  trifles." 
He  was  a  valuable  member  of  the  Union  Convention 
to  form  the  new  constitution  for  the  reconstructed 
State  of  Louisiana,  and  was  also  a  candidate  for  Con 
gressional  honors.  He  has  since  been  engaged  in 
planting  near  New  Orleans  in  company  with  Colonel 
Charles  L.  Norton,  of  Farmingtori,  Conn.* 

Chaplain  Charles  C.  Salter,  of  New  Haven,  was  a 
graduate  of  Yale  College,  of  the  class  of  1852,  and 
afterwards  a  tutor  in  that  institution.  He  had  been 
settled  as  a  minister  in  Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  but 
resigned  his  pastorate  on  account  of  ill  health.  He 
was  distinguished  for  his  thorough  scholarship,  and 
still  more  for  his  fervent  piety  and  his  zeal  in  every 
good  cause.  As  a  minister  of  religion,  a  kind,  warm 
and  affectionate  friend,  especially  to  the  suffering  and 
the  distressed,  he  greatly  endeared  himself  to  many 

*The  generous  and  genial  Bromley  died  of  fever  at  New  Orleans, 
Sept,  3d,  1866,  at  the  age  of  39. 


15 

of  the  soldiers.  He  realized  the  perfect  picture  which 
Goldsmith  gives  of  the  faithful  preacher.  Mr.  Salter's 
health  failed  him.  After  a  ministry  of  several  months 
he  was  forced  by  bronchial  disease  to  resign  his  com 
mission  on  the  15th  of  June,  1862.  He  has  since 
resided  in  Minneapolis. 

Surgeon  Benjamin  N.  Comings,  of  New  Britain, 
Conn.,  had  practiced  medicine  and  surgery  with  suc 
cess  for  many  years.  He  compiled  a  popular  school- 
book  on  Physiology,  and  was  a  lecturer  on  that  science 
in  the  State  Normal  School.  He  had  attained  repu 
tation  as  a  temperance  advocate,  giving  especial  atten 
tion  to  the  effect  of  alcohol  on  the  brain.  On  the  6th 
of  August,  1862,  he  nearly  lost  his  life  by  the  sink 
ing  of  the  steamer  Whiteman  on  the  Mississippi  with 
a  load  of  wounded  of  whom  he  was  in  charge,  from 
the  battle-field  of  Baton  Rogue.  An  inflated  rub 
ber  pillow,  buttoned  beneath  his  overcoat,  kept  him 
afloat.  The  doctor  was  a  close  student  of  natural 
history  ;  especially  ornithology.  Many  a  hapless  wild 
fowl  attested  his  accuracy  as  a  marksman  in  the  woods 
around  Thibodaux,  until  our  waggish  quartermaster 
made  the  officers  believe  that  guerillas  infested  the 
neighborhood.  On  all  occasions  he  showed  himself  a 
skillful  Surgeon.  He  resigned  his  commission  in 
January,  1863,  and  has  since  resided  in  New  Britain, 
where  he  is  greatly  esteemed. 

First  Assistant-Surgeon  George  Clary  was  a  native 
of  New  Hampshire  and  a  practising  physician  of  Hart 
ford,  Conn.  He  entered  the  war  from  patriotic 
motives,  and  remained  in  the  service  until  the  final 
muster-out  of  the  Veteran  Battalion.  In  our  first 
battle  Dr.  Clary  accompanied  the  regiment  into  the 


16 

hottest  fire,  and  manifested  that  calm  courage  which 
proceeds  from  deep  convictions  of  right  and  conscien 
tious  devotion  to  the  cause  of  his  country.  His 
merits  were  recognized  by  his  promotion,  May  23d, 
1863,  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  Dr.  Comings'  resig 
nation. 

Second  Assistant-Surgeon  Nathan  A.  Fisher  was 
sent  as  an  additional  medical  officer  by  the  State  of 
Connecticut,  which,  in  its  parental  care,  left  no  means 
untried  to  promote  the  health  and  comfort  of  the 
soldiers.  His  extensive  experience  and  his  practice 
in  the  southern  states  previous  to  the  war,  were  of 
much  value  to  the  regiment.  He  was  held  in  high 
esteem  by  officers  and  men.  Ill-health  compelled  his 
resignation  June  16th,  1863.  He  has  since  resided 
in  Norwich. 

Sergeant-Major  George  W.  Whittlesey,  of  Norwich, 
after  serving  with  great  fidelity  in  that  capacity,  suc 
ceeded  Grosvenor  as  adjutant,  Dec.  31st,  1862.  He 
made  a  most  excellent  staff  officer.  He  resigned  on 
account  of  sickness,  Oct.  9th,  1863  .He  has  since 
resided  in  Norwich,  where  he  has  been  engaged  in  the 
coal  trade. 

Quartermaster-sergeant  Andrew  T.  Johnson,  of 
Montville,  Conn.,  was  one  of  the  first  non-commis 
sioned  officers  promoted  to  a  lieutenancy.  He 
enlisted  twenty  or  thirty  men  for  "  special  service  in 
the  Quartermaster's  Department,"  and  was  an  officer 
of  much  promise.  His  commission  as  Lieutenant  bore 
date  June  30th,  1862.  The  high  hopes  of  his  friends 
were  blasted  by  his  sudden  death,  caused  by  the  explo 
sion  of  an  ammunition  car  at  the  LaFourche  Railroad 
Crossing,  near  Thibodaux,  La.,  Nov.  7th,  1862. 


17 

Commissary-Sergeant  Charles  A.  Tracy,  of 
Montville,  was  promoted  to  a  lieutenancy  in  Colonel 
Holcomb's  regiment,  the  First  Louisiana,  on  its  orga 
nization,  July  16th,  1862.  His  skill  and  economy  in 
weighing  out  rations  were  valuable  to  the  Quarter 
master  of  the  Thirteenth.  He  was  afterwards  made 
quartermaster  of  the  First  Louisiana,  a  position  he 
filled  with  great  credit. 

Hospital  Steward  William  Bishop,  of  Southington, 
Conn.,  was  clerk  in  the  apothecary  establishment  of 
Hale  &  Dickinson  at  New  Britain  before  the  war.  He 
was  conspicuous  for  the  fearless  discharge  of  his  duty 
in  the  midst  of  the  dangers  of  battle  at  Irish  Bend. 
Though  a  non-combatant,  he  volunteered  in  the 
storming  column  at  Port  Hudson.  On  the  1st  of 
May,  1864,  he  was  promoted  to  be  quartermaster,  a 
position  which  he  filled  with  honor  to  himself  and 
advantage  to  the  regiment.  He  is  now  travelling 
agent  of  the  Union  Paper  Mills,  Springfield,  Mass.* 

Principal-Musician,  alias  "  Drum  Major,"  Joseph 
Hadley,  of  New  London,  Conn.,  had  been  a  musician 
more  than  twenty  years  before,  in  the  Seminole  War 
in  Florida.  He  was  one  of  the  most  accomplished 
of  drummers,  and  would  evoke  a  surprising  amount  of 
music  from  that  most  unmelodious  of  all  instruments. 
Unfortunately  he  got  into  the  habit  of  deserting  in 
the  summer  of  1863,  and  finally  disappeared  alto 
gether  in  August,  1864. 

•  To  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of 
Chaplain  Salter,  Rev.  Henry  Upson,  of  Berlin,  Conn., 
then  a  theological  student  at  Yale,  was  commissioned 
on  the  16th  of  June,  1862.  He  joined  us  about  the 

^Married  Miss  Ellen  Lum,  of  Naugatuck,  April  18,  1867. 


18 

first  of  the  ensuing  September  and  remained  with  us 
a  year.  In  his  care  for  the  soul  he  did  not  forget  the 
body.  He  was  not  only  an  eloquent  and  faithful 
preacher,  but  a  good  forager,  as  many  a  load  of  tur 
keys,  pigs,  sweet  potatoes,  and  the  like,  brought  into 
camp  and  distributed  by  him  to  the  half-starved  sol 
diers,  bore  abundant  witness.  At  the  battle  of  Irish 
Bend  he  displayed  great  courage,  and  rendered  invalu 
able  service  by  communicating  orders,  and  by  dis 
pensing  refreshments  and  consolation  to  the  wounded. 
He  is  now  settled  in  the  ministry  in  New  Preston. 

Second  Assistant-surgeon  Samuel  McClellan,  of 
New  Haven,  cousin  of  Major-General  McClellan,  was 
commissioned  March  14th,  1863.  Having  been  de 
tailed  in  charge  of  the  University  Hospital  in  New 
Orleans,  he  was  absent  from  the  regiment  until  their 
veteran  furlough  in  July,  1864.  As  a  physician  he 
was  successful,  and  the  hospital  under  his  charge  was 
a  model  establishment.  As  a  gentleman,  he  was  cul~ 
tivated,  refined,  and  of  steady  habits.  He  had  charge 
of  the  hospital  boat  "  Laurel  Hill,"  on  Banks'  Red 
River  expedition,  and  not  having  the  hospital  flag,  (a 
yellow  flag,  bearing  a  very  large  letter  H),  flying,  his 
boat  was  hotly  fired  on  by  a  party  of  guerillas,  about 
the  1st  of  May,  1864.  He  gives  an  interesting 
account  of  his  loading  and  discharging  with  his  own 
hands  one  of  the  pieces  of  artillery  during  the  fight. 
On  the  9th  of  May,  1863,  he  was  promoted  to  be 
First  Assistant-surgeon. 

Second  Assistant-surgeon  Lucius  W.  Clark,  of 
Winsted,  Conn.,  had  been  a  Yankee  schoolmaster. 
He  was  commissioned  July  9th,  1863,  and  joined  the 
regiment  at  Carrolton,  La.,  next  month.  We  were 


19 

then,  and  for  some  months  afterwards,  suffering  to  an 
unusual  extent  from  swamp  fevers,  and  Dr.  Clarke 
rendered  invaluable  assistance.  Few  surgeons  ever 
took  so  much  pains,  or  had  so  much  success,  in  the 
treatment  of  the  sick.  The  soldiers  of  the  Thirteenth 
will  ever  retain  a  grateful  recollection  of  his  kindness 
and  skill.  He  remained  with  the  regiment  and  bat 
talion  until  the  final  muster-out.  He  is  now  residing 
in  Cambridge,  Wisconsin  ;  unmarried,  but  hopeful. 
At  least  the  nucleus  of  every  company  was  in  the 
New  Haven  barracks  previous  to  December  1st,  1861. 
The  building  was  the  large  carriage-factory  of  Messrs. 
Durham  &  Booth,  corner  of  Chapel  and  Hamilton 
streets,  since  burned  down.  The  regiment  was  not 
filled  suddenly.  Twelve  regiments,  comprising  not 
less  than  eleven  thousand  men,  had  already  been 
raised  in  Connecticut.  The  growth  of  each  company 
was  rapid  or  slow  according  to  the  popularity  of  the 
proposed  officers,  the  influences  of  friends,  the  efforts 
made  by  advertising,  by  recruiting  agents,  by  holding 
war  meetings,  and  in  some  instances,  by  the  offer  of 
money.  Every  recruit  was  taken  before  Dr.  S.  G. 
Hubbard,  or  some  other  of  the  appointed  physicians, 
and  carefully  examined  as  to  his  physical  ability.  If 
he  passed  the  test,  he  was  sworn  into  the  United 
States  service,  made  to  sign  enlistment  papers  in  trip 
licate,  furnished  a  suit  of  blue  clothes,  and  sent  to 
drill  with  a  musket  in  the  barracks.  Once  in  two  or 
three  weeks  the  mustering  officer,  Lieut.  W.  W. 
Chambcrlin  of  the  Fourteenth  United  States  Infantry, 
who  afterwards  fell  at  Fredericksburgh,  visited  and 
mustered  them.  The  last  company  was  accepted 
Jan.  7th,  1862. 


20 

Company  A  was  commenced  in  August,  1861,  in 
the  town  of  New  Britain  by  First  Lieutenant  John  E. 
Woodruff  and  Second  Lieutenant  Charles  H.  Corn- 
well.  It  was  at  first  intended  for  the  Eleventh  regi 
ment,  which  left  Connecticut  on  the  sixteenth  of 
December  of  that  year.  Mr.  Henry  L.  Bidwell,  of 
Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  formerly  of  Hartford,  was  soon 
afterward  associated  with  them  as  captain.  The  com 
pany  was  called  after  the  popular  governor  of  Con 
necticut,  "  The  Buckingham  Guards,"  and  that  dis 
tinguished  official  presented  its  captain  with  a  beau 
tiful  sword.  One  autumn  evening  about  twenty 
young  men,  members  of  some  of  the  most  respectable 
families  of  New  Britain,  joined  the  company  in  a  body. 
Among  them  were  First-sergeant  Cowles,  whose  death 
on  the  19th  of  February,  1862,  was  one  of  the  first 
that  filled  the  regiment  with  mourning ;  the  two 
Frank  Stanleys,  whose  life-blood  moistened  the  san 
guinary  field  of  Irish  Bend ;  Gladden  and  Carpenter, 
and  other  brave  men  whose  names  are  forever  enrol 
led  among  those  of  the  martyrs  of  liberty.  No  town 
in  Connecticut  can  point  with  more  pride  to  its  heroic 
dead. 

On  the  26th  of  November,  1861,  the  "  Buckingham 
Guards  "  entered  New  Haven,  and  marched  to  the 
barracks.  Here  they  occupied  the  corner  room,  sec 
ond  floor,  at  the  intersection  of  Chapel  and  Hamilton 
streets.  Being  the  right  flank  company  they  were 
armed  with  Sharps'  Bifles. 

B  was  begun  in  October  of  the  same  year  as  a  com 
pany  of  sharp-shooters  by  Captain  Apollos  Comstock 
of  New  Canaan,  Conn.,  assisted  by  First  Lieutenant 


21 

William  E.  Bradley  of  the  same  town,  and  Second 
Lieutenant  William  C.  Beecher,  of  Southbury,  Conn. 
The  test  of  most  accurate  shooting  had  to  be  aban 
doned  after  a  few  weeks'  trial.  This  was  about  the 
middle  of  December,  when  the  company  entered  the 
bar  jacks.  Captain  Comstock  was  indefatigable  in  his 
efforts.  His  buggy  was  his  recruiting  office.  He  rode 
.through  the  State  holding  war  meetings,  testing  the 
skill  of  applicants,  giving  time  and  money  freely  to  the 
cause.  This  patriotic  and  noble  energy  was  well 
rewarded  by  the  enlistment  of  one  of  the  finest 
companies  that  served  during  the  war. 

Like  A,  they  soon  lost  their  first-sergeant,  Haw- 
ley,  by  sickness.  I^e  was  a  man  of  character,  ability, 
and  integrity  ;  was  discharged  from  service  in 
June,  1862,  and  soon  afterwards  died  of  consumption. 
Being  the  left  flank  company,  they  were  armed  with 
Sharps'  Rifles. 

Co.  C  was  raised  by  Captain  Charles  D.  Blinn,  of 
West  Cornwall,  assisted  by  his  cousin,  First  Lieuten 
ant  Issac  F.  Nettleton,  of  Kent,  and  Second  Lieuten 
ant  Charles  E.  Tibbets,  of  New  Milford.  They 
established  a  recruiting  office  in  Cornwall  and  another 
in  Kent.  The  company  was  raised  almost  wholly 
from  the  northwestern  portion  of  the  State  especialy 
from  the  three  towns  which  were  the  homes  of  the 
three  officers,  a  fact  which  testifies  to  their  personal 
worth  and  popularity.  Another  indication  to  the 
same  effect  is  seen  in  the  rapidity  with  which  their 
ranks  were  filled.  They  marched  into  New  Haven  in 
November,  eighty-three  strong,  under  the  designation 
of  the  "  Lyon  Guards,"  called  after  that  distinguished 


22 

son  of  Connecticut,  who  fell  in  Missouri  early  in  the 
war. 

Nettletdn  was  the  first  of  our  officers  to  die.  In 
September,  1862,  he  fell  under  the  fatal  stroke  of  dis 
ease  in  New  Orleans.  His  death  caused  a  deep  gloom 
and  heartfelt  sorrow  among  his  associates.  His  body 
was  embalmed  and  sent  north  ;  but  the  operation  had 
been  so  unskillfully  performed  that  it  was  necessary 
to  throw  it  overboard  in  mid-ocean. 

C  was  the  color  Company,  and  right  gallantly 
bore  the  beautiful  flag  of  Connecticut  and  the  ever- 
glorious  Stars  and  Stripes  through  many  a  fight. 

Co.  D  was  raised  by  Captain  Cyrus  E.  Prindle,  of 
Roxbury,  First  Lieutenant  Perry  Averill,  of  South- 
bury,  and  Second  Lieutenant  Joseph  H.  Meredith,  of 
New  Haven.  It  lost  its  patriotic  captain  and  second 
lieutenant  by  resignation  the  following  August.  In 
the  same  month  its  efficient  first  sergeant,  George 
Mayne,  one  of  the  best  drilled  non-commissioned  offi 
cers  in  the  regiment,  having  served  in  the  summer  of 
1861,  was  promoted  to  an  office  in  the  First  Louisiana. 
This  company,  though  small  in  numbers,  contained 
many  valuable  men.  Besides  Mayne  it  gave  ser 
geants  Timothy  Whittlesey  and  Eugene  Ward  in  the 
summer  of  1863  to  officer  other  regiments.  It  was 
called  "  The  Litchfield  County  Rifles,"  and  that  good 
old  county,  mother  of  so  many  distinguished  sons, 
never  had  cause  to  be  ashamed  of  the  company  that 
now  bore  her  name. 

Co.  E  was  raised  by  Captain  Eugene  Tisdale,  of 
New  Britain,  who  had  served  in  a  Massachusetts  regi 
ment  in  the  three  months'  campaign  of  1861.  He  was 
ably  assisted  by  First  Lieutenant  Eugene  E.  Graves, 


23 

of  Thompson,  and  Second  Lieutenant  William  P. 
Miner,  of  Norwich.  Captain  Tisdale  was  afterwards 
promoted  to  the  office  of  lieutenant  colonel  in  a  New 
Orleans  regiment.  Lieutenant  Graves  became  succes 
sively  captain  and  major  on  General  Weitzel's  staff, 
where  he  is  said  to  have  displayed  much  gallantry. 
Col.  Tisdale  still  retains  his  military  office,  and  resides 
in  New  Orleans. 

Of  the  non-commissioned  officers,  First-sergeant 
Charles  H.  Beaton,  who  had  served  handsomely 
through  the  summer  of  1861,  and  Sergeant  George 
J3.  Deming,  were  afterwards  promoted  to  be  commis 
sioned  officers  in  the  Thirteenth  Connecticut.  The 
latter  afterwards  accepted  a  captaincy  in  the  Fifth 
Regiment,  Corps  d'Afrique.  Beaton  is  now  captain  of 
a  battery. 

Co.  E.  was  composed  of  good  material  and  always 
showed  real  pluck.  For  its  excellence  it  was  de 
tailed  as  Provost  Guard  at  New  Orleans  in  the  sum 
mer  of  1862,  and  afterwards  at  Washington,  La.,  in 
the  spring  of  1863.  It  rejoiced  at  first  in  the  appel 
lation  of  "  The  New  England  Guards." 

Co.  F  was  raised  by  Captain  James  J.  McCord,  of 
Norwich,  who  had  served  honorably  in-  the  three  sum 
mer  months  as  Second  Lieutenant  of  Company  B, 
Second  Connecticut  Infantry.  He  was  aided  by  First 
Lieutenant  Charles  J.  Fuller,  of  Hartford,  and  Second 
Lieutenant  John  C.  Abbott,  of  Norwich.  Lieutenant 
Fuller  had  recruited  about  a  dozen  men  under  the 
name  of  "  The  Catlin  Rifles  "  in  honor  of  Lieut.  Gov. 
Catlin,  from  whom  he  received  a  handsome  sword  and 
sash. 

Captain  McCord  was  one  of  our  most  exemplary 
and  efficient  officers.  He  now  resides  in  Norwich. 


24 

His  eminent  military  merit  has  recently  caused  his 
promotion  to  the  colonelcy  of  the  Third  Connecticut. 
Lieutenant  Abbott  was  soon  detached  as  signal 
officer,  in  which  capacity  he  distinguished  himself 
by  his  skill,  industry  and  courage.  He  was 
actively  engaged  on  board  the  sloop-of-war  Richmond 
at  the  great  bombardment  of  Port  Hudson,  March 
14th,  1863,  when  Farragut  run  the  gauntlet  of  the 
rebel  batteries. 

Private  David  Black  of  this  company  was  the  first 
soldier  of  the  Thirteenth  Connecticut  killed  in  battle. 
He  fell  at  Georgia  Landing,  Oct.  27th,  1862.  Ser 
geant  James  Torrance  was  the  first  offering  of  the 
Thirteenth  at  the  investment  of  Port  Hudson,  May 
24th,  1863.  He  was  one  of  our  bravest  and  best  men. 
Among  those  discharged  to  accept  commissions  in 
other  regiments  were  corporals  George  R.  Case  and 
Amos  R.  Ladd,  and  private  George  R.  Sanders. 
Notwithstanding  these  losses  the  company  never 
lacked  for  true  manliness,  nor  failed  to  achieve  an 
enviable  reputation. 

Co.  G  was  raised  by  Captain  Sylvester  G.  Gilbert,  of 
Hebron,  Conn.,  assisted  by  First  Lieutenant  Denison 
H.  Finley,  of  Marlborough,  Conn.,  and  Second  Lieu 
tenant  Joseph  S.  A.  Baker,  of  New  Haven.  The 
Captain  had  been  a  successful  professor  of  music. 
Lieutenant  Baker  had  been  Second  Lieutenant  of 
Company  C,  Third  Connecticut,  during  the  summer 
campaign  of  1861.  He  was  one  of  the  most  thor 
oughly  drilled  of  our  officers,  having  enjoyed  the 
advantages  of  a  semi-military  education  at  Russell's 
Collegiate  and  Commercial  Institute,  New  Haven. 

The  company  lost  its  excellent  Captain  by  resigna 
tion,  July  16, 1862,  and  also  soon  lost  all  its  Sergeants 


25 

by  discharge  for  physical  disability.  Yet,  through 
the  unwearied  efforts  of  Lieut.  Baker,  it  attained 
great  excellence  in  tirill,  and  was  inferior  to  none  in 
martial  appearance  or  solid  merit.  It  was  always  a 
fine  company.  It  was  recruited  under  the  name  of 
"  The  Hebron  Rifles.''  Finley  was  promoted  to  a 
captaincy  and  was  for  a  long  time  assigned  to  duty  on 
the  staff  of  General  Grover.  He  was  an  energetic 
and  clear-headed  officer. 

After  his  discharge  Captain  Gilbert  was  again  con 
nected  with  the  army  as  sutler,  and  was  afterwards 
captain  in  a  colored  regiment.  Lieutenant  Baker, 
having  served  till  the  close  of  the  year  1864  was  mus- 
tered-out  of  service.  He  was  afterwards  engaged  in 
vine-growing  in  Ohio,  but  now  resides  in  New  Haven. 

Co.  H  was  raised  by  Captain  Homer  B.  Sprague, 
First  Lieutenant  Jonah  F.  Clarke  and  Second  Lieu 
tenant  Julius  Tobias,  all  of  New  Haven.  Captain 
Sprague  had  previously  used  his  law  office  for  recruit 
ing  and  enlisted  fifty  men  for  the  Seventh  Connecti 
cut.  These  unanimously  elected  him  captain,  which 
office  he  then  declined.  In  Nov.  1863,  he  was  com 
missioned  Colonel  of  the  Eleventh  Regiment,  C.  D. 
A.  In  November,  1861,  Lieutenant  Clark  commenced 
raising  a  company  under  the  name  of  "  The  Winfield 
Scott  Guards."  Lieutenant  Tobias,  who  had  been 
severely  wounded  in  the  Austrian  service,  had  col 
lected  about  twenty  men.  These  bore  the  name  of 
"  The  Welch  Rifles,"  in  honor  of  the  patriotic  mayor 
of  New  Haven.  These  squads  were  consolidated,  and 
the  company  raised  under  the  latter  name. 

Lieutenant  Clarke  died  of  fever  at  Baton  Rouge, 
January  27th,  1863.  He  was  a  brave,  intelligent,  up- 

3* 


26 

right  and  patriotic  officer,  and  his  loss  was  deeply  felt. 
Sprague  is  now  principal  of  the  State  Normal  School 
at  New  Britain,  Conn. 

First  Sergeant  Merrill,  who  had  seen  service  in 
South  America,  and  been  First  Lieutenant  in  the 
Second  Connecticut,  afterwards  declined  a  commission 
which  was  offered  him  as  Captain  in  the  First  Louisi 
ana.  Sergeants  James  M.  Gardner  and  Charles  H, 
Grosvenor  became  respectively  lieutenant  and  major 
of  the  First  Louisiana.  Private  Louis  Meissner  was 
successively  promoted  to  be  corporal,  sergeant,  first- 
sergeant,  second  lieutenant  and  first  lieutenant.  He 
fell  gallantly  fighting,  April  23d,  1864,  in  the  bloody 
battle  of  Cane  Elver,  La. 

Co.  H  was  a  good  company.  "  The  men  are  better 
set  up  than  the  rest,''  remarked  Jnspector-general 
Dudley  of  them  at  Thibodaux,  in  the  fall  of  1862. 

Co.  I  was  raised  by  Captain  Henry  L.  Schleiter,  of 
New  London,  assisted  by  First  Lieutenant  Frank 
Wells,  of  Litchfield,  and  Second  Lieutenant  Joseph 
Strickland,  of  New  London. 

The  Captain  had  begun  to  collect  a  company  under 
the  name  of  "  The  New  London  Rifles,"  and  in  com 
pany  with  Lieutenant  Strickland  had  procured  thirty 
or  forty  recruits.  Lieutenant  Wells  had  also  been 
very  successful  in  Litchfield  county,  and  by  the 
patriotic  aid  of  his  brother-hi-law,  Hon.  John  H. 
Hubbard,  and  other  distinguished  men,  had  obtained 
fifty  or  sixty.  When  the  two  bodies  were  consoli 
dated,  there  was  no  better-looking  company  in  the 
service,  and  its  deeds  were  of  corresponding  merit. 

Lieutenant  Strickland  was  the  first  officer  of  the 
Thirteenth  killed  in  battle.  It  was  at  the  head  of  the 
charging  column  on  the  14th  of  June,  1863,  at  Port 


27 

Hudson  ;  and  of  the  many  gallant  officers  that  then 
fell,  there  was  none  more  fearless  or  more  deeply 
mourned. 

Lieutenant  Wells  served  on  the  staff  of  the  celebra 
ted  General  Phelps,  also  of  Generals  Birge  and  King. 
He  repeatedly  distinguished  himself  by  gallantry  in 
action.  He,  as  well  as  Sergeant  Louis  Beckwith,  and 
Corporal  Abner  N.  Stony,  became  captain  in  the  Vet 
eran  Battalion,  after  the  muster-out  of  the  regiment. 

Co.  K  was  originally  intended  for  the  Twelfth  Con 
necticut.  It  was  commenced  in  August,  1861,  by 
First  Lieutenant  Jared  D.  Thompson,  Second  Lieu 
tenant  William  F.  Norman  and  Sergeant  John  T. 
Wheeler  ;  all  of  New  Haven.  It  was  the  first  com 
pany  to  enter  the  barracks,  reaching  them  one  day 
earlier  than  Co.  A.  It  was  raised  under  the  name  of 
"  The  Knowlton  Rifles."  It  had  been  the  understand 
ing  that  Lieutenant  Thompson  should  bo  captain, 
and  Wheeler,  second  lieutenant.  But  unfortunate 
difficulties  having  arisen,  Alfred  Mitchell,  Esq.,  of 
Norwich,  an  author  by  profession  and  a  particular 
friend  of  Colonel  Birge,  was  commissioned  captain. 
Sergeant  Wheeler's  merits  soon  secured  his  promotion 
to  a  lieutenancy.  Sergeant  William  C.  Gardner, 
John  C.  Kinney  and  George  G.  Smith  were  afterwards 
commissioned  the  first  two  in  the  Thirteenth  Connec 
ticut,  the  latter,  who  had  brought  a  squad  of  recruits 
into  the  company,  in  the  First  Louisiana.  Kinney 
was  detailed  as  acting  signal  officer  on  the  flagship 
Hartford.  During  the  severe  naval  action  in  Mobile 
harbor  he  was  lashed  to  one  mast  and  Farragut  to  the 
other. 

Captain  Mitchell  was   commissioned  major,  May 


28 

12th,  1863,  but  declined.  He  resigned  his  captaincy 
March  llth,  1864,  having  been  on  the  staff  of  Colonel 
(afterwards  of  General)  Birge  nearly  all  the  time. 
On  the  7th  of  November,  1862,  Lieutenant  Wheeler 
was  instantly  killed  by  the  explosion  of  an  ammuni 
tion  car  on  the  New  Orleans,  Opelousas  and  Great 
Western  Railroad.  The  regiment  thus  lost  a  valu 
able  officer  and  a  true  man. 

Co.  K  was  a  fighting  company,  rarely  missing  an 
opportunity  to  distinguish  itself  in  that  line.  It  is 
due  to  the  members,  however,  to  state  that  their  bel 
ligerent  propensities  were  displayed,  for  the  most 
part,  against  the  public  enemies.  They  were  clearly 
of  the  opinion  that  war  could  not  be  conducted  on 
peace  principles.  In  the  battle  of  Cedar  Creek  and 
on  other  occasions  the  company  rendered  eminent 
service. 


The  winter  of  1861-2  was  very  severe.  The  bar 
racks,  three  stories  high,  were  only  partially  warmed 
by  steam  pipes,  which  often  got  out  of  order ;  when 
the  temperature  would  suddenly  pass  to  the  extreme 
of  cold.  It  was  difficult  to  ventilate  the  rooms  prop 
erly.  The  beds  of  the  soldiers  were  arranged  one 
above  the  other,  each  company  by  itself.  The  officers 
generally  had  rooms  in  town,  but  some  chose  to 
remain  in  the  barracks.  The  soldiers  suffered,  and 
the  seeds  of  many  a  sickness  and  many  a  death  were 
sown  in  these  dreary  and  unwholesome  quarters. 
Measles,  the  invariable  concomitant  of  a  crowd  of  sol 
diers,  broke  out  among  them  and  carried  off  some  of 
our  best  men.  Small-pox  made  its  appearance,  but 


£9 

was  managed  so  skillfully  that  the  soldiers  and  the 
community  knew  nothing  of  it  till  the  danger  was 
past.  The  infected  were  quietly  removed  to  a  pest- 
house.  Report  was  spread  that  they  had  deserted,  or 
were  absent  without  leave.  One  of  the  nurses  of 
these  patients,  private  James  Barry,  Co.  F,  was  sup 
posed  to  have  deserted  ;  and  so  generally  was  this 
believed,  that  his  afflicted  wife,  giving  full  credit  to 
this  report,  left  Norwich  and  returned  to  her  native 
Scotland !  First-sergeant  Cowles  of  Company  A., 
private  Slover  of  C,  Welch  of  D,  Warner  of  G,  Win. 
F.  Scribner  of  H,  Ferris  and  Tyrell  of  I,  Ryan  and 
Goldsmith  of  K,  were  among  those  who  died  before 
the  regiment  left  New  Haven,  of  disease  engendered 
within  those  unhealthy  walls. 

One  large  room  in  the  east  side  of  the  building  was 
set  apart  as  a  chapel.  Here  divine  services  were  held 
every  morning  at  9  o'clock,  with  preaching  every  Sun 
day.  Rev.  J.  M.  Dudley,  residing  in  Olive  Street, 
New  Haven,  usually  officiated.  Occasionally  Rev. 
James  H.  Bradford,  at  that  time  a  student  in  the  Yale 
Theological  School,  afterwards  chaplain  of  the  Twelfth 
Connecticut,  conducted  the  services.  Sergeant  (after 
wards  Lieutenant)  John  C.  Kinney,  Co.  K,  then  a 
theological  student,  could  also  be  depended  upon  to 
lead  the  devotions.  His  Excellency,  Gov.  Bucking 
ham,  was  present  at  one  of  these  meetings  and  offered 
a  fervent  prayer.  About  the  first  of  February,  1862, 
the  field  and  company  officers  were  called  upon  to 
choose  a  regimental  chaplain.  The  two  prominent 
candidates  were  Rev.  Mr.  Win  slow,  formerly  of  the 
New  Britain  Center  Church,  and  Rev.  Mr.  Salter,  of 
whom  mention  has  already  been  made.  Mr.  Wins- 


30 

low's  ready  eloquence  and  social  qualities  made  him 
a  powerful  competitor  ;  but  Mr.  Salter's  long  acquaint 
ance  and  companionship  prevailed,  and  he  was  corn- 
missioned  accordingly  on  the  5th  of  February,  1862. 

At  evening  the  chapel  room  often  presented  a  scene 
of  surpassing  interest.  Lectures  were  delivered  by 
eloquent  orators,  speeches  made  by  professional  and 
other  gentlemen,  the  fairest  ladies  of  the  city  sung 
sweet  and  stirring  songs.  Especially  was  the  subject 
of  temperance  urged  upon  the  soldiers,  and  with  good 
effect.  A  temperance  society  was  formed,  and  large 
numbers  signed  the  pledge  of  total  abstinence.  Rev. 
Mr.  Dudley  deserves  the  thanks  of  every  soldier  for 
his  efforts  to  make  us  all  better  and  happier. 

The  patriotic  ladies  of  New  Haven  merit  a  more 
particular  notice  in  this  history.  They  sent  innumer 
able  comforts  to  the  sick,  and  presented  every  soldier 
with  what  they  called  a  "house-wife" — a  nice  little 
arrangement  of  pin  cushion,  needles,  thread  and  the 
like,  in  compact  form  and  sometimes  with  the  name 
of  the  fair  maker  embroidered  thereon.  They  hardly 
need  the  assurance  of  our  thankfulness  now;  as  many 
a  marriage  knot,  tied  during  and  since  the  war,  will 
testify  that  these  names,  and  the  beautiful  faces  and 
forms  that  sometimes  glided  through  our  gloomy 
barracks  and  reappeared  in  dreams  as  we  lay  on  the 
frosty  ground  or  beneath  pelting  storms,  were  never 
forgotten.  Especially  is  a  sumptuous  dinner,  given 
by  them  to  our  soldiers  on  the  anniversary  of  Wash 
ington's  birthday,  gratefully  remembered  ;  when  the 
delicious  viands  were  rendered  doubly  attractive  by 
their  charming  presence. 


31 

When  a  sufficient  number  had  enlisted  in  a  com 
pany,  ah  election  of  officers  was  held,  and  the  suc 
cessful   candidates    were   immediately  commissioned 
by  Gov.  Buckingham.     A  few  Lieutenants  had  receiv 
ed  appointments   previously,  to  facilitate  recruiting. 
Daily  drills  by  the  officers  and  sergeants  were  had 
in  the  barracks  or  outside  except  Sundays.     In  the 
chapel  room  the  officers  were  thoroughly  exercised  in 
the  manual  of  arms  and  the  school  of  the  company 
by  John  Arnold,  Esq.,  formerly  General  of  the  State 
militia,  and  Colonel  of  the  3d  Connecticut  in  the  three 
months'  campaign.     Upon  the  suggestion  of  Captain 
Tisdale,  the  so-called  Zouave  stack-of-arms  was  adopt 
ed  by  the  regiment.     Aware  of  the  great  importance 
of  pride  of  appearance  and  esprit  du  corps,  Col.  Birge 
early  endeavored  to  induce  the  officers  to  pay  extraor 
dinary  attention  to  neatness,  cleanliness,  and  martial 
bearing.     He  secured  dark  blue  trousers  in  place  of 
the   regulation  sky-blue;    every  belt,  shoe  and  box 
must  be  neatly  polished  ;  every  gun-barrel  and  bayo 
net  must  shine  like  a  mirror  ;  every  hand  must  wear 
a  glove  of  spotless  white  ;  every  form  must  be  erect 
and  manly ;  every  soldier  must  feel  himself  a  gentle 
man.     A  few  months  later,  when  we   entered  New 
Orleans  and  marched  to  the  custom-house  in  all  "the 
pride,  pomp  and  circumstance  of  glorious  war,"  we 
were  greatly  amused  and  edified  by  the  frequent  com 
ment  among  the  thousands  of  spectators,  "This  regi 
ment  is  composed  only  of  rich  men's  sons!"     "They 
say  they  didn't  receive  any  soldiers  taxed  for  less  than 
five   thousand  dollars!"     Parton,  in  his  "Butler  in 
New  Orleans,"  styles  the  Thirteenth  Connecticut  a 


32 

"dandy  regiment."  Many  prophesied  that  our  men 
would  prove  parlor  soldiers,  fit  only  to 

"  caper  nimbly  in  a  lady's  chamber, 
To  the  lascivious  pleasing  of  a  lute," 

and  that  those  fine  clothes  would  never  tarry  to  be 
riddled  by  bullets.  A  year  or  two  afterwards,  at  the 
close  of  a  hot  battle,  Captain  Sprague  reminded  Colo 
nel  Birge  of  these  predictions.  "  Well,"  he  replied, 
"  I  noticed  they  did'nt  run  away,  like  some  of  those 
dirty  regiments !" 

Little  occurred  to  break  the  monotony  of  the  daily 
routine.  Occasionally  the  Governor  would  visit  us, 
when  special  pains  would  be  taken  to  present  a  good 
appearance.  Frequently  we  marched  through  the 
streets  of  New  Haven,  drilled  in  front  of  the  Tontine 
Hotel  or  on  Whitney  Avenue,  or  attended  church  by 
companies.  In  the  latter  part  of  February  the  regi 
ment  turned  out  in  funeral  procession  in  honor  of  the 
lamented  Colonel  Russell,  of  the  Tenth  Connecticut, 
killed  at  Roanoke  Island.  During  this  winter  Colonel 
Birge  was  disabled  for  some  weeks  by  a  severe  injury 
to  his  knee,  having  been  thrown  from  his  horse.  In 
February,  a  board  of  examiners,  of  which  Brigadier 
General  Daniel  Tyler  was  chairman,  examined  the 
company  officers  in  the  Regulations  and  Tactics. 

Of  course  we  were  not  free  from  the  usual  bicker 
ings  of  army  life.  At  one  time  eighteen  men  were 
shut  up  in  our  guard  house  for  refusing  to  do  duty. 
They  claimed  that  they  had  been  enlisted  under  false 
pretences,  "  for  special  service  in  the  Quartermaster's 
Department,"  and  that  they  were  unjustly  put  into 
the  ranks.  They  employed  counsel  and  refused  to 


33 

drill.  Great  was  the  excitement,  for  their  complaints 
were  not  unfounded.  At  the  request  of  the  Colonel, 
who  remarked,  "  If  I  had  them  in  the  field,  I  should 
know  better  how  to  deal  with  them ;  but  I  fear  that 
severe  measures  now  would  retard  the  recruiting," 
the  captain  of  Company  H  visited  them  in  the  guard 
room,  listened  to  their  complaints,  explained  to  them 
their  obligations,  showed  them  that  .no  one  had  au 
thority  to  enlist  them  for  "special  service,"  but  that 
by  their  voluntary  enlistment  they  had  bound  them 
selves  in  writing  and  by  a  solemn  oath  to  obey  the 
orders  of  their  superior  officers,  promised  them  their 
choice  of  companies,  and  appealed  to  their  patriotism 
and  manhood  to  show  themselves  true  men  and  good 
soldiers.  The  appeal  was  successful.  They  were  re 
leased  from  arrest  and  did  their  duty  manfully  ever 
after. 

At  another  time,  during  our  stay  at  the  New  Haven 
barracks,  the  soldiers  grew  clamorous  for  their  pay, 
and  many  refused  to  drill  until  their  demands  were 
satisfied.  Major  Holcomb  called  some  of  the  most 
obstinate,  loaded  his  pistol  in  their  presence,  and  read 
to  them  the  ninth  Article  of  War,  which  threatens 
death  to  those  who  "  disobey  the  lawful  order  of  their 
superior  officer."  It  needed  but  a  single  look  at  the 
Major  to  satisfy  them  that  he  was  not  trifling.  They 
yielded,  and  in  a  few  days  after  received  their  pay. 

Nor  is  the  "  undress  parade"  of  company  K  forgot 
ten.  Lieutenant  Thompson  had  somehow  excited  the 
ire  of  those  of  his  men  who  were  unpoetically  styled 
"  Head-of-the-wharf  Rats."  One  midnight,  on  return 
ing  to  the  barracks,  he  found  bottles,  guns,  valises, 
4 


34 

chairs,  tables  and  various  trumpery  piled  to  the  ceil 
ing  on  his  bed.  Thereupon  he  ordered  every  man 
out  into  line,  where  they  shivered  two  mortal  hours, 
almost  as 

"  Naked  as  when  from  earth  they  came." 

It  was  generally  conceded  that  the  Lieutenant  had  the 
best  of  it. 

On  the  18th  of  February  most  of  the  officers  were 
mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States  by 
Lieutenant  Chamberlin.  Until  that  date  they  were 
in  the  pay  of  the  State  of  Connecticut.  Into  the 
usual  form  of  the  oath,  "  to  serve"  the  nation  "  faith 
fully  against  all  enemies  or  opposers  whomsoever,"  he 
inserted  the  words,  "  against  England  or  any  foreign 
power  that  may  wage  war  against  us." 

We  now  awaited  orders  to  depart.  We  hoped  for 
any  other  destination  rather  than  the  Department  of 
the  Gulf.  But  Major  General  B.  F.  Butler  was  at  the 
time  engaged  in  organizing  his  great  "  New  England 
Division"  for  service  in  the  extreme  south,  and  he  so 
managed  as  to  secure  the  ninth,  twelfth  and  thir 
teenth  Connecticut  regiments.  The  ninth  had  left 
us  in  the  preceding  November ;  the  twelfth,  on  the 
twenty-fourth  of  February. 

Sunday,  March  16,  1862,  the  long-expected  orders 
came.  Colonel  Birge  called  the  officers  together: 
"  You  will  hold  your  commands  in  readiness  to  move 
to-morrow.  Our  destination  is  undoubtedly  Ship 
Island." 

Monday,  March  17,  was  a  sad  day  to  most  of  us, 
though  the  bustle  and  excitement  of  preparation  kept 
the  officers  busy  till  the  moment  of  embarkation.  Pa- 


35 

rents,  brothers,  sisters,  wives  and  other  loved  ones 
gathered  around  us  for  a  parting  grasp  of  the  hand 
and  a  last  good-bye.  We  were  well  assured  that  many 
of  us  would  never  return ;  that  sickness  would  pros 
trate  some,  the  sword  others ;  sorrow  and  hardship 
and  danger  would  encompass  all.  Yet  high  hopes 
and  firm  resolves  mingled  with  these  forebodings,  as, 
proudly  conscious  that  we  were  the  representatives  of 
the  great  republic,  we  filed  with  streaming  banners 
down  Chapel  Street  to  the  landing  near  Tomlinson's 
Bridge,  and  marched  on  board  the  steamer  "  Granite 
State." 


CHAPTER  II. 

ARRIVING  in  New  York  Harbor  on  the  morning  of 
March  18th,  1862,  we  were  transferred  to  the  ship 
City  of  New  York,  a  staunch  vessel  of  eighteen  hun 
dred  tons.  The  ship  had  been  fitted  up  for  our  recep 
tion  under  the  superintendence  of  Captain  Mitchell, 
who  had  been  sent  to  New  York  for  the  purpose  by 
Colonel  Birge,  and  whose  extensive  experience  in 
traveling  by  sea  had  thoroughly  qualified  him  for 
the  task.  The  "  bunks  "  for  the  officers  had  each  the 
sliding  tin  dish  fastened  alongside  suggestive  of  the 
effects  of  sea-sickness.  We  laughed  at  the  idea  at 
first,  but  most  of  us  came  to  regard  the  contrivance 
with  a  friendly  and  solemn  interest.  In  one  particu 
lar  the  arrangements  were  defective.  No  proper  and 
sufficient  room  had  been  allowed  for  a  hospital.  Col. 
Birge  and  staff  and  Captain  Mitchell  occupied  the 
cabin  rooms  on  the  quarter  deck  with  Mr.  Salter,  the 
captain  of  the  ship.  The  rest  of  the  officers  were  in 
the  ward-room  below.  The  nominal  aggregate  of  the 
regiment  was  one  thousand  and  seventeen,  of  whom 
thirty-nine  were  commissioned  officers.  Many  of  the 
enlisted  men  were  left  behind,  sick  or  deserters ;  so 
that  the  number  on  board,  all  told,  was  about  nine 
hundred  and  fifty,  besides  the  crew. 

We  remained  in  New  York  Harbor  and  Sandy  Hook 
Bay  five  days,  taking  in  stores  and  waiting  for  favor 
able  winds.  Sunday,  March  23d,  we  weighed  anchor 
about  noon,  and  in  a  few  hours  saw  the  heights  of 
Neversink  vanishing  beyond  the  distant  waves. 


37 

For  twenty  days  we  were  afloat.  We  stood  far  out 
into  the  Atlantic,  passing  around  the  eastern  coast  of 
Great  Abaco,  one  of  the  Bahamas,  and  in  full  view  of 
the  famous  "  Hole  in  the  Wall,"  through  which  the 
billows  are  forever  tumbling.  A  barren  group 
appeared  these  islands,  windy,  rocky,  sandy  ;  the 
peaks  and  ridges  of  submerged  mountains  scorched 
by  every  sun  and  swept  by  every  blast.  We  thought 
if  Guanahani,  the  San  Salvador  of  Columbus,  and  the 
first  land  discovered  by  him  looked  like  the  rest,  a 
melancholy  satisfaction  must  have  rewarded  the  great 
navigator  after  his  seventy  days'  sail ;  but  the  books 
say  that  to  his  vivid  imagination  the  island  seemed 
"  covered  with  forests  and  decked  with  all  the  flowers 
of  the  tropics  !" 

Soon  after  passing  Cape  Hatteras  we  had  the  usual 
"  Storm  at  Sea."  We  were  in  the  Gulf  Stream.  It 
came  on  at  night  with  much  lightning  and  heavy 
wind,  rain  and  thunder.  Some  of  the  soldiers,  who 
had  never  been  on  salt  water  before,  were  afflicted 
with  anxiety  and  sea-sickness  ;  a  combination  amus 
ing  enough  to  all  but  the  sufferers.  It  was  a  night  of 
horrors  to  poor  Underwood,  our  fife-major,  the  begin 
ning  of  whose  fatal  sickness  dates  from  this  storm. 

An  officer  of  the  day  was  regularly  detailed  to  look 
after  the  order  and  cleanliness  of  the  ship  and  men. 
The  work  of  scrubbing  was  renewed  every  morning  by 
fatigue  parties.  Messrs.  Wait  and  Champion,  sutlers, 
accompanied  us.  Either  the  soldiers  or  the  sailors 
committed  extensive  larcenies  of  their  goods.  To 
bacco,  cigars  and  raisins  stran'gely  disappeared.  Poor 
Wait  was  reduced  to  the  point  of  death  by  rheumatic 
fever.  This  was  but  a  prelude  to  their  woes  ;  for  soon 

4* 


after  arriving  in  New  Orleans,  they  were  robbed  of  a 
large  sum ;  in  the  following  autumn  Champion  had 
both  legs  broken,  and  his  stock  of  merchandise  was 
smashed  by  a  railroad  explosion. 

Daily,  when  the  weather  permitted,  the  Colonel 
assembled  the  officers  on  the  quarter  deck  at  three  P. 
M.,  and  heard  them  recite  carefully-prepared  lessons 
from  Hardee's  Tactics  or  the  Army  Regulations. 
These  lessons  and  the  discussion  of  disputed  points 
were  of  great  utility. 

Occasionally  for  some  misdemeanor  it  was  found 
necessary  to  punish  a  soldier  by  tying  him  to  the 
mast,  gunwale,  or  rigging,  or  thrusting  him  into  the 
stifling  air  of  the  "  dark  hole."  Many  of  us  recollect 
how  Captain  Salter  pursued  one  of  the  seamen  with 
cocked  pistol,  endeavoring  to  shoot  him  for  mutinous 
language,  and  how  emphatically  he  swore  on  the 
occasion  ;  which  drew  out  from  Captain  M.,  the 
remarkable  statement,  "  I  should  never  dare  to  cross 
the  ocean  in  a  ship  with  a  captain  who  did  not  swear." 

Every  morning  at  nine  o'clock  the  soldiers  were 
called  together  for  prayers  by  our  faithful  chaplain 
Salter,  when  a  chapter  of  the  bible  was  read,  a  hymn 
sung,  and  prayer  offered.  At  evening,  religious  meet 
ings  of  great  interest  was  held  in  the  quarters  of  the 
enlisted  men.  Cases  of  undoubted  reformation  and 
conversion  gladdened  the  chaplain  and  those  seriously 
disposed.  The  experience  of  after  years  often  showed 
us  what  indeed  must  be  evident  to  a  thoughtful 
observer,  that,  of  all  persons,  the  soldier  has  most  need 
to  be  a  religious  man.  Napoleon's  maxim  (if  he  ever 
uttered  it),  "The  worse  the  man,  the  better  the  sol 
dier,"  may  be  true  in  a  clearly  unrighteous  cause ; 
'but  not  otherwise. 


39 

Sometimes  dramatic  representations  were  given  at 
evening,  with  recitations  and  songs.  In  fact,  quite  a 
theatre  was  started.  Sergeants  Gardner,  of  K,  and 
Gardner,  of  H,  corporal  Devereaux  Jones,  of  A, 
afterwards  lieutenant  in  the  First  Louisiana,  and 
private  Charles  Raffile,  of  K,  all  actors  of  experience, 
gave  scenes  from  Hamlet  and  other  plays.  Between 
the  scenes  songs  were  sung  by  private  Jeremiah 
Keefe,  of  H,  musician  James  McAllister,  of  I,  pri 
vate  William  JB.  Bragg,  of  D,  afterwards  captain  in 
the  First  Louisiana  Cavalry,  and  by  others.  These 
performances  afforded  entertainment  to  hundreds  of 
delighted  listeners  until  near  midnight. 

Often  at  evening  in  fair  weather  Co.  A's  accom 
plished  Glee  Club,  comprising  Lieutenant  Woodruff, 
sergeant  Gladden,  corporals  Warren,  Jones  and  Car 
penter,  and  private  Gladden,  assembled  on  the  quar 
ter  deck  at  twilight,  and  charmed  all  with  such  songs 
as  Ihe  Star  Spangled  Banner,  The  Sword  of  Bunker 
Hill,  Hurrah  for  Old  New  England,  Home  Again, 
and  the  more  modern  music  of  patriotism  and  the 
fireside. 

On  the  27th  of  March  occurred  the  first  death  on 
ship-board.  It  was  that  of  private  Michael  Dobson, 
of  Co.  H.  The  disease  had  long  been  undermining 
his  constitution,  and  the  close,  crowded,  unhealthy 
quarters  had  quickly  destroyed  his  remaining  vitality. 
The  funeral  services  made  a  deep  impression,  as  they 
always  do  on  those  who  behold  for  the  first  time  a 
burial  at  sea.  Chaplain  Salter  officiated,  reading  the 
Episcopal  service  from  the  Book  of  Common  Prayer. 
The  body  had  been  sewed  up  in  the  blanket  of  the 
deceased,  with  a  cannon  ball  at  the  feet  to  sink  it. 


40 

The  pall-bearers  laid  it  on  a  plank  and  lifted  it  on  the 
gunwale.  The  tender  pathos  of  the  chaplain's  voice 
touched  every  heart.  Earth  to  earth,  ashes  to  ashes, 
dust  to  dust !  The  corpse  splashed  heavily  in  the 
dark  green  waves  and  vanished  forever.  Three  times 
was  this  solemn  scene  repeated  before  we  arrived  at 
Ship  Island. 

With  the  usual  curiosity  we  gazed  upon  the  gulf- 
weed  drifting  on  its  aimless  journey  ;  saw  the  dark- 
blue  forms  of  sharks  gliding  like  attendant  demons 
beneath  us ;  saw  the  dolphins  flash  past  us,  the  por 
poises  rolling,  the  flying  fish  leaping,  the  sea-gulls 
perpetually  hovering  in  our  wake.  On  the  distant 
line  where  sky  and  water  seem  to  meet,  we  loved  to 
watch  with  our  glasses  the  projecting  masts  of  invisi 
ble  hulls,  proving  so  plainly  the  convexity  of  the  ocean. 
Sleeping  on  deck  as  we  advanced  further  south  and 
the  air  grew  warmer,  we  nightly  witnessed  the  stu 
pendous  march  of  the  moon  and  stars  across  the  sky ; 
and  at  the  great  miracle  of  sunrise  and  sunset,  we 
could  almost  imagine  we  heard  the  hiss  of  the  burn 
ing  wheels. 

The  un poetic  side  of  sleeping  there  was  this :  that 
precisely  at  earliest  dawn  the  deck  was  flooded  with 
water  by  the  sailors,  who  took  a  malicious  delight  in 
wetting  us  as  we  lay  unconscious  in  the  arms  of 
Morpheus ! 

About  daylight,  Sunday  morning,  April  6th,  we 
were  suddenly  aroused  by  noise  on  deck,  the  loud 
voice  of  the  first  mate,  Mr.  Craig,  shouting,  "  Belay, 
there  !  Belay  !"  the  stopping  of  the  ship,  the  heavy 
rumbling  of  the  great  anchor- chain  down  the  side. 
We  were  wedged  in  among  the  most  dangerous  of  the 


41 

Florida  keys,  having  been  drifted  several  miles  out  of 
our  true  course  by  unsuspected  currents.  Two  or 
three  old  wrecks  lay  in  sight.  The  white  breakers 
and  coral  reefs  all  around  us  betokened  our  peril.  A 
couple  of  miles  distant  in  the  direction  of  the  main 
land  lay  a  beautiful  circular  island,  shaded  with  cocoa- 
nut  trees.  Half  hid  among  these  were  buildings  that 
so  far  off  looked  like  well-built  mansions.  An  old 
man  came  from  the  island  in  a  boat.  He  told  us  the 
place  was  Indian  Key  ;  he  lived  by  wrecking  ;  did  not 
know  much  about  war ;  the  war  did  not  disturb  him  ; 
the  last  he  had  heard  was  that  the  Yankees  were 
rather  getting  worsted,  but  that  was  several  months 
before.  He  gave  us  valuable  information  about  the 
"  lay  "  of  the  land,  or  rather,  of  the  rocks.  As  it  was 
likely  to  take  several  hours  to  extricate  the  ship,  Col. 
Birge  went  ashore  in  a  row  boat,  accompanied  by  Adjt. 
Grosvenor,  Captains  Bidwell,  Mitchell,  Sprague,  Lieut. 
Tibbets  and  one  or  two  others.  The  sun's  rays  were 
intensely  hot,  but  with  sergeant  (afterwards  major) 
Grosvenor,  and  several  o'ther  picked  oarsmen,  we 
quickly  reached  the  little  island,  that  looked  up  so 
pretty  in  the  distance.  We  found  it  two  or  three 
acres  in  extent.  The  romance  vanished,  for  the  most 
part,  on  reaching  the  place.  It  was  low,  sandy, 
almost  destitute  of  vegetation  except  a  few  clusters  of 
cocoa-nut  tree.  It  had  three  or  four  small  families, 
as  many  cows,  and  a  dozen  pigs.  The  buildings  shrunk 
into  poor,  dilapidated  houses  without  glass  windows 
and  almost  without  furniture.  For  drink,  the  inhabi 
tants  depended  on  reservoirs  of  rain-water  beneath 
the  houses.  They  gained  a  rather  precarious  and  mis 
erable  subsistence  by  wrecking  and  fishing,  selling 
cocoa-nuts,  shells  and  sponges.  On  every  side  the 


42 

sea-water  broke  monotonously  over  the  worn,  porous, 
coral  rocks.  The  margin  was  fringed  with  sand 
which  was  bespangled  with  shells.  These,  with  some 
enormous  sponges  and  a  few  cocoa-nuts,  were  all  we 
brought  away  as  curiosities. 

After  two  or  three  hours'  strolling  about  the  island, 
during  which  some  of  the  party  went  in  bathing  and 
got  the  prickles  of  the  sea-urchin  or  some  equally 
sharp  acquaintance  introduced  to  their  feet,  we  com 
menced  returning.  On  our  way  back  we  were  startled 
by  the  sight  of  a  large  ocean  steamer,  which  seemed  to 
rise  like  an  apparition  from  the  waves.  It  made 
swiftly  for  our  ship,  on  board  of  which  we  observed 
considerable  commotion.  The  troops  took  post  for 
fighting,  hoisted  the  Star  Spangled  Banner,  and  run 
out  the  two  cannon.  The  strange  craft  showed  no 
colors,  nor  was  any  one  to  be  seen  on  her.  She 
steered  straight  for  the  ship,  but  when  about  half  a 
mile  distant  she  suddenly  shifted  her  course  and 
passed  away  like  a  phantom. 

We  had  heard  before  leaving  New  York  that  the 
rebel  privateer  Alabama  was  on  the  Atlantic  coast, 
and  after  some  sort  we  had  made  arrangements  to 
show  fight  if  attacked.  We  had  taken  on  board  two 
old  twenty-four  pounders  from  the  Brooklyn  navy 
yard,  with  a  supply  of  ball  cartridge.  Every  morn 
ing  at  sunrise,  First  Sergeant  Merrill,  with  private 
Thomas  Harrison  and  the  rest  of  his  squad  of  cannon, 
iers,  fired  a  shotted  gun,  and  went  through  an  artil 
lery  drill. 

On  reaching  the  ship,  Colonel  Birge  was  greatly 
annoyed  to  find  that  nearly  all  the  officers  had  taken 
the  liberty  to  go  off  in  one  of  the  ship's  boats,  and  had 


43 

not  returned.  This  breach  of  discipline  he  rebuked 
in  terms  so  emphatic  that  no  officer  of  the  Thirteenth 
cared  to  repeat  the  offence. 

Passing  Key  West  we  stood  in  a  northerly  and 
afterwards  in  a  westerly  direction,  keeping  not  far 
from  the  Florida  coast.  As  we  passed  Pensacola  the 
wind  freshened,  and  by  and  by  it  blew  almost  a  gale. 
Next  morning,  off  the  mouth  of  Mobile  Bay,  a  violent 
thunder  storm  overtook  us.  Its  effects  on  Ship 
Island  were  quite  serious,  prostrating  tents  and 
destroying  property.  Several  soldiers  on  guard  were 
killed  by  lightning.  The  view  of  our  anchored 
squadron  lying  opposite  Forts  Morgan  and  Gaines, 
and  tossing  in  dreary  solitude  on  the  wild  waste  of 
waters,  gave  us  a  repulsive  idea  of  the  monotony  of 
life  on  a  blockader. 

Saturday,  April  12th,  towards  evening,  we  first 
came  in  sight  of  Ship  Island.  The  lower  end  was 
thronged  by  shipping.  It  is  a  long  bank  of  the  finest 
sand.  '  The  greater  portion  is  utterly  destitute  of  trees 
and  verdure.  A  few  blades  of  coarse  grass  and  weeds 
straggled  here  and  there.  We  gained  a  more  just 
appreciation  of  the  simile  in  Coleridge's  Ancient 
Mariner, 

"  Thou  art  long  and  lank  and  brown 
As  is  the  ribbed  sea  sand." 

The  water  at  high  tide  covers  most  of  the  island, 
and  a  storm  sometimes  rolls  the  billows  quite  across, 
sweeping  everything  before  them.  A  few  summers 
ago  it  was  thus  submerged,  and  quite  a  number  of 
lives  were  lost  of  persons  visiting  it  from  New 
Orleans  for  pleasure.  The  unfinished  fort  and  the 


44 

< 

lighthouse,  half  destroyed  by  the  rebels  soon  after  the 
commencement  of  the  war,  were  the  only  evidence  of 
prior  occupation.  A  sergeant  of  Co.  H  informed  the 
writer  that  he  had  hunted  wild  hogs  on  the  upper  end 
of  the  island  while  engaged  in  smuggling ! 

As  we  drew  near,  the  island  seemed  almost  covered 
with  tents.  Sixteen  regiments  of  Butler's  command 
were  already  there,  besides  artillery  and  cavalry.  As 
we  came  to  anchor,  several  batteries  were  practising 
on  the  level  beach,  and  in  the  deepening  twilight  their 
flash  and  roar  made  the  scene  quite  sublime. 

We  disembarked  next  morning,  Sunday^April  13th, 
1862.  For  the  first  time  we  pitched  tents  as  a  regi 
ment.  We  were  much  straitened  for  want  of  room. 
The  camp  ground  was  an  irregular  sand-heap.  While 
the  rest  of  us  were  leveling  it,  marking  out  company 
limits,  and  quarreling  about  the  possession  of  shovels, 
the  cooks  were  busy  boiling  coffee.  Colonel  Birge 
coming  along  took  a  cup,  and  for  want  of  a  spoon 
stirred  in  the  sugar  with  his  forefinger,  remarking, 
"  This  is  what  we've  got  to  come  to." 

On  the  15th  of  April,  musician  Underwood,  of  Co. 
E,  died  ;  a  man  of  pure  character,  and  simple  unpre 
tending  piety.  He  had  enlisted  from  patriotic 
motives,  and  won  the  sympathy  of  all  by  his  suffer 
ings  on  the  ship.  His  comrades  buried  him  in  the 
sands  ;  the  first  of  our  regiment  to  mingle  his  dust 
with  southern  soil. 

We  remained  three  weeks  on  Ship  Island,  having 
daily  battalion  and  company  drills  and  dress  parades. 
Colonel  Birge  pursued  his  design  of  perfecting  the 
personal  appearance  of  the  men,  by  selecting  at  every 
guard-mounting  the  neatest  and  handsomest  for  his 


45 

orderly,  and  bestowing  special  honor  upon  all  such. 
His  maxim  was,  Good  officers  make  good  men.  Slov 
enliness  was  the  unpardonable  sin.  Those  were  days 
of  crocus,  emery  paper,  paste  blacking,  and  white 
gloves.  A  spirit  of  emulation  prevailed  among  the 
officers,  and  they  contributed  from  ten  to  a  hundred 
dollars  each  to  purchase  the  means  of  display  for  their 
commands.  Our  first  dress  parade  at  Ship  Island  is 
well  remembered.  The  long  line  of  eight  hundred 
men  in  dark  blue  clothing  with  white  gloves  and 
burnished  arms  showed  like  a  beautiful  painting  in 
the  yello.w  rays  of  the  setting  sun.  "  Look  at  them  !" 
said  the  Colonel,  pointing  to  the  soldiers  with  enthu 
siastic  pride  as  the  officers  marched  up  on  the  dis 
missal  of  parade. 

We  soon  found  the  island  an  uncomfortable  place. 
A  small  fly  abounds  here,  that  bites  as  vigorously  as 
the  African  tsetse,  though  not  poisonous.  The  fine 
white  sand  would  not  soil  the  cleanest  linen,  but  it 
drifts  like  snow  in  the  perpetual  breeze,  unerringly 
insinuating  itself  into  every  crevice.  No  pains  nor 
skill  could  keep  it  out  of  our  food.  Months  after 
wards  on  unpacking  clothing  from  the  inmost  recesses 
of  our  trunks,  we  found  the  omnipresent  sand  even 
there.  It  has  one  admirable  quality  :  it  holds  rain 
water  like  a  sponge.  Dig  down  two  or  three  feet,  and 
you  find  fresh,  sweet  water  in  abundance.  It  is  said, 
however,  to  be  impregnated  with  sulphur,  and  it  had 
a  very  laxative  effect.  In  a  week  or  ten  days,  too,  the 
water  of  each  well  became  vitiated,  and  it  was  neces 
sary  to  dig  in  another  spot.  Beneath  the  sand  lies  a 
beautiful,  compact,  blue  clay,  which  seems  to  form 
the  bottom  of  this  sort  of  rain-water  reservoir. 


46 

Above  it  the  sun  glares  like  a  white-hot  furnace  ;  so 
that  we  found  it  necessary  to  use  green  goggles. 

It  was  exceedingly  difficult  to  get  wood  for  cooking. 
We  were  obliged  to  send  parties  to  cut  and  haul  it 
through  the  surf  from  the  upper  end  of  the  island 
several  miles  distant. 

On  Ship  Island  we  first  saw  General  Phelps,  of 
Brattleboro,  Vermont.  He  had  preceded  Butler  in 
arriving  on  the  ground,  and  had  published  the  cele 
brated  Ship  Island  Proclamation,  in  which  he 
declared  the  death  of  slavery,  and  invited  the  Louisi 
ana  planters  to  adopt  free  labor.  It  required  two 
years  for  the  nation  to  come  up  to  that  high  stand 
point,  and  the  country  could  not  even  bear  to  hear 
the  truth  at  that  time.  They  thought  him  insane, 
and  he  was  soon  forced  to  resign  his  commission 
rather  than  submit  to  what  he  deemed  the  tyrannical 
requirements  of  a  political  general  in  the  interest  of 
slavery.  Like  so  many  of  the  illustrious  advocates  of 
progress  in  every  age,  he  may  have  been  too  much  in 
advance  of  his  times ;  yet  this  is  his  imperishable 
glory,  that  he  alone  of  all  our  generals  at  this  early 
day  had  the  intellect  to  perceive  the  truth,  the  cour 
age  to  proclaim  it  and  the  hand  to  execute  it ;  and 
that,  in  the  summer  of  1862,  he  dared,  first  of  all  our 
generals,  to  arm  the  blacks  in  defence  of  liberty,  as 
the  rebel  governor  of  Louisiana  had  already  done  in 
defence  of  slavery. 

The  General  used  to  amuse  his  soldiers  by  his  dry 
wit  and  shrewd  criticisms.  He  had  a  cool  incisive 
way  of  taking  out  conceit,  that  was  refreshing  to  the 
beholder.  One  day  a  red-legged  Zouave  officer  in  the 
fantastic  dress  of  his  regiment  swaggered  past  a  group 
among  whom  was  General  Phelps.  The  general 


47 

asked,  "  What  are  you  ?"  "  Me  !  I'm  a  Zouave." 
"  A  Zouave  !"  said  the  general,  "fcWhy,  what  on  earth 
is  that  ?"  "  A  Zouave,  sir,  is  a  soldier,"  replied  the 
"  Zou  Zou."  "  Ah  !  a  soldier  !  I  thought  you  was 
a  circus  rider  /" 

Another  day  on  Ship  Island  the  general  was  atten 
tively  watching  an  officer  who  was  pompously  display 
ing  his  ignorance  of  the  very  rudiments  of  tactics  at  a 
battalion  drill.  The  general  called  him  aside,  and 
said,  "  I  have  been  observing  for  a  long  time  youj 
remarkable  performances  in  the  way  of  drill."  Here 
the  officer's  eyes  brightened,  expecting  some  high  com 
pliment.  "  I  noticed,"  continued  the  general.  "  that 
you  seem  acquainted,  I  might  say,  perfectly  ac 
quainted,  with  everything,"  (here  the  officer's  face 
wore  the  blandest  of  smiles) — "  perfectly  acquainted 
with  everything  ;  except  your  duty  !  Now,  you  go  to 
your  tent.  Study  tactics  a  few  weeks ;  and  when  you 
have  learned  something  about  war,  I'll  come  and  see 
you  drill  your  company  !" 

Near  the  end  of  April  we  heard  the  distant  boom 
ing  of  cannon,  and  at  night  some  thought  they  could 
distinguished  the  occasional  flash  of  exploding  shells. 
It  was  the  bombardment  of  Fort  Jackson,  about  sixty 
miles  in  a  direct  line  from  Ship  Island.  We  had 
hoped  to  share  in  the  first  grand  attack  in  Louisiana, 
but  never  doubted  we  should  see  fighting  enough  in 
the  expected  battles  around  New  Orleans.  It  seemed 
incredible  that  they  should  give  up  their  chief  city 
without  one  tremendous  conflict  by  land  as  well  as  by 
water.  The  naval  fight  was  indeed  terrible ;  hardly 
paralleled  in  the  annals  of  war,  either  for  the  fierce 
ness  with  which  the  combatants  fought,  the  destruc- 


48 

tiveness  of  the  contest,  or  the  completeness  of  the  vic 
tory.  To  the  surprise  of  all  of  us,  the  chivalry  .that 
had  flamed  so  brightly  seemed  to  have  been  suddenly 
extinguished  in  the  river.  The  great  city  tamely  sur 
rendered  at  sight  of  the  first  gunboat  ;  her  thirty- 
thousand  soldiers  vanishing  before  Farragut  came 
near.  The  forts  surrendered  on  the  twenty-eighth ; 
the  city,  on  the  twenty-ninth  of  April,  1862. 

On  the  3d  of  May  we  received  orders  to  be  in  readi 
ness  for  re-embarkation  on  the  ship  City  of  New  York. 
Sunday,  May  4th,  we  struck  tents  in  the  morning,  and 
after  waiting  all  day  in  the  hot  sand  and  sunshine,  we 
commenced  going  on  board  at  night.  On  the  fifth  we 
set  sail  for  the  southwest  pass  of  the  Mississippi.  As 
we  approached  this  great  outlet,  Captain  Salter 
insisted  that  it  was  impossible  to  cross  the  bar  without 
first  lightening  the  ship  of  its  enormous  ballast. 
Accordingly  several  scores  of  soldiers  were  kept  at 
hard  work  a  day  or  two,  shoveling  the  dirt  overboard. 
It  was  strongly  suspected  and  loudly  complained  by 
many  of  the  laborers,  who  "  ha%  been  there  before," 
that  all  this  statement  about  the  difficulty  of  crossing 
the  bar  at  that  stage  of  the  water  was  a  mere  pre 
tence  of  Captain  Sailer's,  who  thus  anticipated,  they 
said,  the  labor  which  would  have  been  necessary  at 
New  Orleans,  and  saved  a  few  hundred  dollars  by  the 
operation.  "  Sugar,"  they  argued,  "  makes  as  good 
ballast  as  pure  gravel." 

A  small  steam-tug  slowly  towed  our  ship  up  the 
majestic  river.  It  was  the  second  Veek  in  May.  The 
breath  of  orange  groves  and  millions  of  flowers,  the 
broad  level  fields,  bounded  by  the  green  woods  in  the 
distance,  and  rich  in  all  the  waving  glories  of  that 


49 

lovely  climate  and  unequaled  soil,  the  beautiful  pil 
lared  mansions  of  lordly  planters,  whose  taste,  culture, 
luxury  and  pride  had  been  amply  ministered  to  by 
the  unpaid  toil  of  hundreds  of  slaves — all  contrasted 
strongly  with  the  white  burning  sand  of  Ship  Island, 
or  the  limitless  expanse  of  the  "  harvestless  sea." 

The  Mississippi  had  not  been  so  high  for  many 
years.  It  filled  its  channel  to  the  top  of  the  levees. 
Like  the  Po,  as  it  nears  the  ocean  it  becomes  mor£ 
and  more,  and  increasingly  from  year  to  year,  an 
enormous  aqueduct  between  artificial  banks  ;  and 
the  day  may  arrive  when  the  deposit  of  sediment  and 
the  necessary  rising  of  the  levees  will  have  lifted  the 
very  bottom  of  the  river  above  the  surface  of  the  sur 
rounding  country.  On  a  level  with  the  house  roofs 
we  glided  along  as  if  by  enchantment.  Hoeing  in 
the  green  fields,  or  thronging  the  banks  of  the  Father  of 
Waters,  were  swarms  of  many-colored  slaves,  from 
the  delicately-tinted  white  of  the  octaroon  with  the 
soft,  lustrous  eyes,  to  a  darkness  before  which  night 
grows  pale.  These,  with  indubitable  demonstrations 
of  joy,  waved  their  handkerchiefs,  shouting,  "  Wel 
come  !  Welcome  !  Glory  to  God  !"  while  their  white 
masters  and  mistresses  scowled  defiance,  or  turned 
their  backs  in  impotent  scorn  and  rage. 

We  anchored  a  day  at  Fort  Jackson,  and  had 
opportunity  to  examine  the  effect  of  the  iron  hail 
which  Farragut  had  poured  upon  it.  All  the  ground 
within  a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  fort  on  every  side 
was  thickly  dotted  with  great  holes  scooped  out  by 
the  explosion  of  the  thirteen-inch  mortar  shells.  The 
river  face  of  the  fort  was  considerably  battered.  A 
few  guns  had  been  dismounted.  Two  casemates  had 

5* 


50 

been  nearly  knocked  into  one.  But  though  some 
what  disfigured,  covered  with  debris,  and  blackened 
by  the  fire  that  had  consumed  the  wood-work  of  the 
interior,  the  fort  was  pronounced  by  Chief  Engineer 
Weitzel  "  as  strong  as  before  the  bombardment." 
Evidently  it  might  have  made  a  much  more  protracted 
resistance.  Fort  St.  Philip,  lying  diagonally  opposite, 
on  the  other  side  and  a  little  higher  up,  was  entirely 
unharmed.  In  the  river  we  saw  the  ugly  hulk  of  the 
iron-clad  Manasses  and  other  rebel  wrecks.  The  deep 
stream,  now  swollen  by  the  spring  floods,  covered 
nearly  all ;  an  occasional  mast  or  smoke  stack,  like  a 
grave  stone,  marking  the  spot  where  a  buried  vessel 
lay.  Quite  a  number  of  fire-rafts  loaded  with  pitch 
pine,  tar,  rosin,  and  other  combustibles,  were  seen 
here  and  there  along  the  banks. 

At  last  on  the  twelfth  of  May  we  came  in  sight  of 
the  city.  How  changed  from  the  New  Orleans  of 
other  days  !  A  dozen  government  vessels  were  all 
the  shipping  that  could  be  seen,  where,  a  year  before, 
hundreds  of  sea-going  vessels  and  river  craft  crowded 
upon  one  another  along  the  whole  front  of  the  city. 
Many  of  these  had  gone  up  the  Red  River  for  safety ; 
some  had  been  sunk  ;  some  burned  at  the  wharves  r 
many  concealed  in  the  numerous  bayous  that  connect 
with  the  Mississippi.  A  charred  and  blackened  mass  of 
burnt  cotton  lined  the  wide  empty  levee  for  miles, 
where,  a  few  months  before,  bales,  barrels,  boxes, 
bags,  and  every  kind  of  merchandise,  were  piled  high 
as  the  roofs.  A  hundred  or  so  of  jubilant  negroes  of 
both  sexes,  and  a  score  or  two  of  white  men  and  boys 
immediately  gathered  at  the  pier.  The  second  matt 
threw  ashore  the  looped  end  of  a  stout  cable.  uBoy,' 


51 

said  lie  to  a  youth  of  a  dozen  years,  who  wore  a  con 
federate  artillery  cap,  "  Boy,  won't  you  just  put  that 
'ere  rope  over  that  log?"  "No,  I'll  be  damned  if  I 
will !"  was  the  instant  reply. 

Towards  evening  Colonel  Birge  buckled  on  sword 
and  pistol  and  went  unattended  from  the  ship  up 
through  the  streets  to  report  to  General  Butler.  Ap 
prehensive  for  his  safety,  we  were  gratified  to  see  him 
return  safe,  after  an  hour's  absence. 

May  13th,  we  landed  on  the  levee  and  marched  a 
short  distance  to  the  yard  of  the  Orleans  cotton  press, 
where  the  regiment  went  into  temporary  quarters. 
We  immediately  proceeded  to  make  ourselves  com 
fortable,  and  had  just  got  nicely  settled  when  orders 
came  to  move  again.  General  Butler's  eye  had  rested 
on  the  regiment,  and  he  assigned  us  the  post  of  honor, 
the  Custom  House.  So,  on  the  morning  of  May 
15th,  every  man  put  on  his  best  attire,  and  we 
marched  through  the  streets  with  great  pomp,  going 
a  little  further  than  was  absolutely  necessary,  in  order 
to  give  the  rebels  a  full  view  of  a  live  Yankee  regi 
ment.  Many  old  citizens  of  New  Orleans  told  us 
afterwards  they  had  never  seen  so  fine-looking  troops, 
either  in  the  Union  or  Confederate  service. 

We  found  the  building  filthy  beyond  expression. 
Never  completed  nor  even  roofed,  though  millions 
of  dollars  had  been  spent  upon  it  by  the  United 
States,  under  the  superintendence  of  Beauregard  and 
other  engineers,  it  had  been  tenanted  a  year  by  the 
Confederate  troops  ;  cannon  had  been  mounted  on  the 
topmost  story  and  peered  through  the  upper  windows  ; 
the  walls  were  disfigured  by  disloyal  and  obscene 
inscriptions ;  and  a  confused  mass  of  rubbish  had 


52 

been  piled  up  in  the  numerous  rooms.  In  front  and 
rear  were  many  half-burnt  gun-carriages.  Here,  too, 
were  scores  of  church  bells,  which  the  frenzied  inhabi 
tants  had  contributed  from  all  parts  of  Louisiana,  to 
be  melted  into  cannon — fit  illustration  of  the  demon 
power  of  war,  which  substitutes  the  horrible .  clangor 
of  arms  and  the  din  of  hell  itself  for  the  melodious 
chimes  that  call  to  prayer  and  praise. 

"  Is  it,  0  man,  with  such  discordant  noises, 
With  such  accursed  instruments  as  these, 

Thou  drownest  Nature's  sweet  and  kindly  voices, 
And  jarrest  the  celestial  harmonies  ?  " 

The  Custom  House  was  now  the  military  center  of 
the  Department  of  the  Gulf.  From  this  point  Butler 
fulminated  his  famous  orders.  Here  was  the  Post 
Office.  Here  the  Provost  Court,  the  Courts  Martial, 
and  the  Military  Commissions  sat.  Here,  in  case  of 
insurrection  in  the  city — no  improbable  contingency 
at  that  time — was  the  strongest,  most  defensible  posi 
tion  ;  a  fortress  in  itself. 

General  Butler's  office  was  in  the  second  story, 
northeast  (rear)  angle.  The  Provost  Court,  of  which 
Major  Bell,  of  the  old  firm  of  Choate  &  Bell,  was 
Judge,  was  held  in  the  second  story  looking  out  on 
Magazine  Street.  The  officers  of  the  Treasury  De 
partment  occupied  rooms  in  the  same  story,  on  the 
river  side.  Hon.  Reverdy  Johnson,  during  his  in 
quisitorial  visit,  occupied  the  front  center  room,  same 
story,  on  Canal  Street.  The  Post  Office  was  on  the 
first  or  ground  floor,  on  the  corner  of  Canal  and  Mag 
azine  streets.  Prison  rooms,  blacksmith  shops,  kitch 
ens,  sutler's  rooms,  guard-houses,  stables,  boat-build- 


53 

ers'  shops,  Quartermaster's  and  Commissary's  rooms 
were  on  the  same  floor.  The  companies  of  the  Thir 
teenth  Connecticut  were  scattered  through  the  large 
building.  Company  A  took  the  rear  room,  top  of  the 
building,  fourth  story,  near  the  center ;  Company  C? 
directly  under  Company  A ;  Company  H,  directly 
under  Company  C,  and  therefore  in  the  second  story; 
Company  D,  alongside  Company  H  ;  Company  G, 
third  story,  back  corner  room,  on  Magazine  Street ; 
Company  B,  the  same  side  and  story,  front  corner 
room  ;  Company  P,  front  room,  third  story,  next  to 
Company  B ;  Company  D,  front  corner  room,  third 
story,  on  the  river  side ;  Company  E,  a  large  room, 
second  story,  on  Magazine  Street ;  Company  K,  the 
front  corner  room,  next  to  Company  E. 

Battalion  drills  were  commenced,  but  soon  discon 
tinued  on  account  of  the  other  laborious  duties  and 
the  oppressive  heat.  Returning  in  route  step  one  May 
morning  from  our  second  battalion  drill,  the  regiment 
at  suggestion  of  Colonel  Birge  struck  up  as  one  man 
the  song,  never  before  heard  in  New  Orleans, 

"  Jolin  Brown's  body  lies  a  mouldering  in  the  grave, 
His  soul  is  marching  on." 

We  immediately  began  to  put  the  Custom  House  in 
order.  Overwhelmed  by  the  influx  of  contrabands, 
who  came  from  every  part  of  the  country  as  well  as 
the  city,  making  their  way  by  stealth  or  force  past  the 
Confederate  pickets,  and  past  the  city  police  who  used 
every  effort  to  exclude  them,  we  set  about  a  hundred 
of  them  at  work  cleaning  the  floors,  ceilings,  stair 
ways,  walls,  drains,  casement,  and  kept  them  so  em 
ployed  week  after  week,  until  the  Augean  Stables 


54 

presented  an  appearance  worthy  of  the  "finest-looking 
regiment  that  ever  entered  New  Orleans."  Among 
other  permanent  improvements,  Major  Holcomb  built 
a  broad,  handsome  and  substantial  flight  of  stairs  in 
the  center  of  the  front  on  Canal  Street,  leading  from 
the  sidewalk  to  the  second  story.  On  the  summit  of 
the  Custom  House  we  flung  to  the  breeze,  amid  the  en 
thusiastic  shouts  of  the  soldiers  and  the  peals  of  ar 
tillery,  a  large  United  States  flag.  It  floated  from  a 
beautiful  flag-staff  which  had  been  mysteriously  "  con 
veyed"  from  a  ship  lying  at  anchor  at  Ship  Island 
when  the  Thirteenth  took  its  departure  for  New  Or 
leans. 

In  addition  to  the  heavy  guard  about  the  Custom 
House,  we  sent  out  every  night  an  officer  with  a  com 
pany  to  patrol  the  streets  till  morning.  At  nine  every 
evening  we  also  sent  a  company  to  serve  as  the  special 
body-guard  of  the  hated  prince  of  policemen. 

Prince  of  policemen  !  for  General  Butler  had,  per 
haps,  the  most  villainous  set  of  rascals  to  deal  with 
that  ever  disgraced  and  endangered  a  city.  Deserters 
from  the  Confederate  army,  deserters  from  the  Union 
army,  foreign  rogues  from  the  four  quarters  of  the 
world,  gamblers,  "fancy  men,"  thieves,  cut-throats—all 
to  some  extent  banded  together,  and  forming  a  sort  of 
"  Devil's  regiment  of  the  line,"  under  the  significant 
appellation  of  Thugs  !  A  vigilance  committee  had  to 
be  organized  a  few  years  ago  to  protect  decent  people 
from  the  assaults  of  these  Thugs!  The  city  to  a  man, 
yea,  to  a  woman,  was  hostile  to  Federal  rule.  "  Every 

union  man  is  drunk,  and  every  union  woman  a ," 

remarked  Colonel  Birge  to  the  writer,  one  evening — 
an  assertion  too  sweeping,  but  yet  conveying  some 


55 

idea  of  the  truth,  though  exaggerated.  Add  to  this' 
moral  Gehenna  the  material  filth  that  had  accumu 
lated  for  a  year,  and  that  made  the  most  pious  of  the 
confederates  believe  that  God  would  mercifully  sweep 
away  the  Yankees  by  yellow  fever,  when  the  set  time 
to  favor  the  rebel  Zion  should  have  fully  come  ;  and 
some  idea  may  be  gained  of  the  need  that  existed  in 
this  city  for  the  prince  of  policemen.  They  needed  a 
master  and  they  found  one.  He  governed  the  city 
with  u an  iron  hand"  without  a  a  velvet  glove,"  and 
he  governed  it  well.  He  made  it  safe  for  any  man  or 
woman  to  pass  alone,  on  any  street  at  any  hour,  from 
one  end  of  New  Orleans  to  the  other.  The  streets^ 
the  drains,  the  canals,  were  cleaned  as  they  never  had 
been  before.  The  sanitary  condition  of  the  city  was 
perfect.  Yellow  fever  did  not  come.  "Order  reign 
ed  in  Warsaw;"  Thugdom  was  tranquil. 

Before  we  had  been  a  week  in  the  Custom  House 
we  began  to  discharge  the  disabled  and  to  receive  re 
cruits.  We  took  in  about  two  hundred  and  twenty  in 
all,  filling  the  regiment  to  the  maximum.  Nearly  all 
were  of  foreign  birth,  and  most  of  them  had  lived  in  the 
northern  states.  For  illustration :  Company  H  re. 
ceived  twenty  four  recruits  in  May.  Of  these  twelve 
were  born  in  Ireland,  ten  in  Germany,  one  in  NewYork, 
and  one  in  Massachusetts.  All  but  five  had  lived  in 
the  North.  All  but  six  had  been  in  the  Confederate 
service.  These  New  Orleans  men  were  a  valuable 
accession  to  our  ranks,  many  of  them  being  brave 
men,  experienced  in  war.  They  were  credited  to  the 
quota  of  Connecticut,  and  few  of  them  ever  dishon 
ored  her  name.  They  were  well  aware  of  the  risk 
they  incurred  of  being  executed  as  deserters  if  recap- 


56 

ttired  by  the  rebels.  At  the  Bayo  Des  Allemands,  on 
the  New  Orleans,  Opelousas  and  Great  Western  Rail- 
Road,  during  that  very  summer,  several  companies  of 
the  Eighth  Vermont,  stationed  at  Algiers,  were  am 
bushed  and  captured,  and  seven  of  their  number  were 
recognized  as  having  served  in  the  Confederate  ranks. 
They  asserted  that  it  was  by  compulsion ;  but  the  plea 
did  not  avail.  They  were  taken  about  five  rods  from 
the  rail-road,  a  single  shallow  pit  was  dug,  they  were 
placed  on  the  brink,  and  without  respite  were  shot 
down ;  their  bodies  tumbled  into  the  ditch,  and  a  few 
shovelfuls  of  earth  were  thrown  over  them.  The 
desolate  spot  has  a  mournful  interest,  and  we  often 
visited  it.  Overgrown  with  weeds,  it  is  yet  easily  re 
cognized,  beside  some  trees,  nearly  abreast  with  the 
earthworks,  on  the  right  side  as  you  go  from  Algiers. 
The  traveller  who  has  either  sentiment  or  patriotism 
will  hardly  restrain  his  tears,  when  he  stands  there 
and  listens  to  the  story  of  a  father's  anguish  as  he 
shoveled  the  dirt  away  to  find  the  mouldering  remains 
of  his  handsome  and  manly  boy.  Will  not  the  great 
republic  some  day  rear  a  monument  to  mark  the  last 
resting  place  of  the  seven  martyrs  who  died  for  her  at 
the  Bayou  Des  Allemands  in  the  summer  of  '62  ? 

About  two  weeks  after  our  arrival  in  the  Custom 
House,  we  concluded  to  have  a  brass  band.  We  ac 
cordingly  engaged  the  services  of  Mr.  Charles  Bother, 
one  of  the  best  band  leaders  in  the  United  States.  He 
selected  sixteen  other  musicians,  all  of  them  distin 
guished  for  their  skill.  They  were  enlisted  into  the 
regiment,  and  mustered  into  the  United  States  service. 
The  same  band,  with  two  or  three  exceptions,  had 
been  in  the  Confederate  army,  and  had  played  on  the 


57 

jloody  field  of  Shiloh.  All  being  professional  musi 
cians,  the  band  of  the  Thirteenth  soon  became  famous 
in  the  Department  of  the  Gulf.  Active  and  long- 
continued  operations  in  the  field  finally  forced  us 
to  the  conclusion  that  it  was  impracticable  to  retain 
them,  and  they  were  accordingly  mustered  out  after 
a  year  and  a  half  with  the  Thirteenth. 

We  were  more  than  four  months  in  the  Custom 
House,  during  which  the  regiment  by  its  general  good 
conduct  gained  the  esteem  of  the  citizens.  Of  course 
there  were  exceptional  cases.  About  the  first  of  June 
a  band  of  burglars  was  organized,  including  one 
member  of  Company  F,  Thirteenth  Connecticut,  and 
Mr.  Craig,  First  Mate  of  the  ship  City  of  Neiu  York. 
They  represented  themselves  as  officers  of  our  army, 
and  empowered  to  search  houses  for  arms  and  contra 
band  papers.  With  forged  orders  and  in  disguised  uni 
forms  they  forced  their  way  at  dead  of  night  into  the 
dwellings  of  peaceable  citizens,  searched  trunks,  draw 
ers,  wardrobes,  seized  whatever  money  or  plate  they 
could  lay  hands  on,  and  made  off  with  their  booty. 
The  villainy  was  quickly  laid  before  General  Butler. 
A  Military  Commission  tried  them  on  Friday,  sentenc 
ed  them  on  Saturday,  and  four  of  them,  including 
the  two  above  named,  were  hanged  the  following 
Monday,  June  16,  at  the  Parish  Prison. 

Butler  executed  only  one  other  person  during  our 
stay  in  New  Orleans.  It  was  the  gambler,  Mumford. 
He  was  hung  at  the  Mint.  His  offence  was  endeavor 
ing  to  excite  insurrection  by  tearing  down  the  United 
States  flag  from  the  top  of  the  Mint  after  the  sur 
render  of  the  city.  After  his  conviction  he  was  con 
fined  in  the  Custom  House  under  a  guard  from  our 
6 


58 

regiment.  Here  Chaplain  Salter  repeatedly  visited 
him,  arid  with  tears  offered  him  the  consolations  of 
religion,  and  begged  him  to  accept  a  Saviour's  mercy. 
Mumford's  reply  to  the  exhortation  to  prepare  for 
eternity  was  singular  enough.  He  said  in  substance 
as  follows :  "I  have  no  fear  of  death,  because  I 
have  lived  a  blameless  life.  Having  never  done  any 
thing  wrong,  I  am  prepared  for  a  future  world,  if 
there  is  any  future  world.  I  only  hate  to  leave  my 
friends."  Well  might  our  kind  chaplain  be  perplexed 
and  amazed.  In  this  stoical  indifference,  without  a 
prayer  on  his  lips,  Mumford  met  death  as  coolly  as 
did  old  John  Brown  on  the  Virginia  scaffold.  But 
Brown  was  a  man  of  different  mould ;  of  austere 
morals,  trained  to  piety,  accustomed  to  spend  much 
of  his  time  in  reading  his  bible  or  on  his  knees  in 
prayer.  Mumford  was  conceded  to  have  no  religious 
convictions,  was  dissolute,  intemperate,  and  a  noted 
gambler — poor  material  to  exalt  into  a  martyr,  even 
in  the  cause  of  slavery,  for  which  he  died. 

Six  other  men  were  doomed  to  be  shot  by  sentence 
of  a  Military  Commission,  for  the  offence  of  recruit 
ing  for  the  Confederate  army  within  our  military  lines. 
The  appointed  day  came.  A  detachment  of  the  Thir 
teenth  Connecticut  was  detailed  to  do  the  shooting. 
At  early  morning  the  prisoners,  with  a  strong  military 
escort  from  our  regiment,  proceeded  a  couple  of  miles 
towards  the  lake,  with  a  vast  concourse  of  spectators 
thronging  around.  Passing  out  of  Canal  Street,  they 
halted  in  an  open  field  on  the  left.  The  troops  were 
drawn  up  on  three  sides  of  a  square.  The  soldiers 
charged  with  the  execution  stood  in  line  about  ten 
paces  from  the  victims,  who  were  seated  on  their  cof- 


59 

fins.  Perfect  silence  reigned.  The  order  for  trial, 
the  charge,  specifications,  findings  and  sentence,  were 
read  by  the  Provost  Marshal  in  a  clear  voice.*  The 
muskets  were  loaded.  The  fatal  word  " Fire"  was 
just  on  the  point  of  being  uttered,  when  an  orderly 
rode  up  with  a  reprieve !  Two  of  them  listened  to 
the  merciful  tidings  in  silence.  Two  thanked  God 
aloud  and  manifested  ardent  gratitude.  But  one  of 
them  damned  General  Butler  with  horrible  oaths  for 
having  "fooled"  him  and  the  others  by  this  mock 
show ! 

The  irrepressible  conflict  met  us  constantly.  What 
ever  a  Federal  bullet  struck,  wherever  a  Federal  bay 
onet  pierced,  the  demon  of  Slavery  started  up  into 
visible  and  gigantic  proportions,  like  Satan  at  the 
touch  of  Ithuriel's  spear.  Butler  at  first  tried  hard  to 
pacify  the  people,  and  avoid  wounding  their  feelings. 
On  the  subject  of  slavery  he  was  especially  anxious  to 
•'win  their  favor.  For  about  three  weeks  he  used  all 
his  influence,  and  in  at  least  one  instance*  his  author 
ity,  to  cause  fugitives  to  be  restored  to  their  masters. 
Vain  and  foolish  attempt.  To  serve  liberty  by  prop 
ping  slavery !  To  soothe  Niagara  by  pouring  on  a 
little  sweet  oil !  Yet  he  tried  it.  The  police  as  of  old 
were  allowed  to  seize  and  deliver  up  fugitive  slaves. 
The  punishment  of  whipping  them  in  jail  was  still 
inflicted  with  the  full  sanction  of  the  military  au 
thorities. 

When  the  Thirteenth  Connecticut  had  established, 
itself  in  the  Custom  House,  most  of  the  companies 
employed,  as  laundresses,  colored  women,  who  had  run 

*  Case  of  the  slave  girl  Caroline.     See  Appendix. 


60 

away  or  been  driven  off  to  the  Yankees.  Besides  these 
slaves,  about  a  hundred  negro  men  had  been  set  at 
work  by  Bromley  in  the  Quartermaster's  Department, 
as  black-smiths,  carpenters,  shoemakers,  wagoners,  and 
laborers.  Somehow  we  got  the  reputation  of  being 
an  anti-slavery  regiment ;  or  as  a  certain  high  officer 

on  Butler's  staff  expressed  it,    u  a  d d  abolition 

regiment!"  Butler  issued  stringent  orders  to  keep 
the  negroes  out  of  the  Custom  House.  On  the  26th 
of  May  he  caused  the  names  of  all  to  be  taken,  and 
ordered  all  unemployed  negroes  to  be  driven  out.  On 
the  27th  he  commanded  that  all  laundresses  should 
be  put  out.  On  the  28th  he  directed  that  the  pay 
for  servants  be  deducted  from  the  pay  for  officers,  in 
order  to  prevent  officers  from  harboring  runaways. 

The  night  after  the  promulgation  of  the  order  to 
admit  no  more  slaves  into  the  Custom  House,  several 
able-bodied  negro  men  from  the  plantation  of  Alexan 
der  Grant,  twenty  miles  down  the  river,  made  their 
way  with  much  difficulty  and  danger  to  our  quarters. 
They  had  been  shot  at,  hunted  with  dogs,  and  some 
of  them  bore  the  marks  of  recent  whipping.  With 
tears  they  begged  to  be  protected  from  the  police,  who 
would  pounce  upon  them  at  daybreak  and  lodge  them 
in  jail  to  be  again  whipped  and  returned  to  their  rebel 
master.  Here  was  a  quandary.  It  was  past  mid 
night  ;  the  Custom  House  was  full ;  there  was  no 
work  for  any  more  blacks.  Butler's  order  was  still 
ringing  in  our  ears.  The  Officer  of  the  Day  (Captain 
of  Company  H)  went  to  Bromley,  in  whom  as  in 
Daniel  of  old,  "  were  found  an  excellent  spirit,  and 
knowledge,  and  understanding,  *  *  and  showing  of 
hard  sentences,  and  dissolving  of  doubts."  "  I  have  no 


61 

use  for  them,"  said  Bromley ;  "  I  have  more  now 
than  I  can  well  employ.  I  can  take  them  up  on  my 
papers,  however,  and  will  do  so,  if  you  '11  find  work 
for  them.  Will  you  agree  to  find  labor  for  them  ?" 
"  Yes.  But  I'm  curious  to  know  how  you'll  enter 
their  names  on  your  papers  so  as  to  evade  the  Gene 
ral's  order."  "Oh!  that's  easy  enough,"  replied  the 
Quartermaster.  "  I'll  give  them  a  pass  dated  a  week 
back  in  red  ink.  There's  great  magic  in  red  ink!" 
So  the  Quartermaster  received  them.  Next  morning 
the  Officer  of  the  Day  set  them  at  work  washing 
floors ;  and  week  after  week  they  scrubbed  with  un 
wearied  industry,  and  endless  repetition.  They  prov 
ed  to  be  most  valuable  hands,  and  we  never  regretted 
our  kindness  to  them.  In  due  time  they  enlisted  in 
the  military  service  and  fought  well  for  freedom. 

The  idea  of  a  Southern  slave  was  associated  with 
that  of  a  black  skin.  In  this  we  were  quickly  unde 
ceived.  On  the  19th  of  May,  a  handsomely  dfessed 
young  man,  having  found  his  way  into  our  quarters, 
asked  the  captain  of  Company  H  if  he  could  not  fur 
nish  him  employment.  The  officer  surveyed  the  well- 
behaved  applicant,  and  noticed  a  certain  diffidence 
and  respectful  air  mingled  with  his  otherwise  aristo 
cratic  bearing,  remarked  his  polished  manners,  fault 
less  broadcloth,  and  soft  white  hands,  and  with  real 
compassion  said : 

"  I  regret,  sir,  that  I  have  no  such  position  at  my 
command  as  you  would  probably  desire." 

"  I  would  accept  a'inost  any  situation,  sir." 

"  Excuse  me,  sir,  but  I  presume  you  are  in  the 
same  condition  as  scores  of  others  in  this  city — tem 
porarily  reduced  to  straitened  circumstances  by  the 


62 

fortune  of  war — and  that  you  would  prefer  a  clerk 
ship,  or  some  writing  in  the  Custom  House  or  Post 
Office." 

"  0  no,  sir,  I  can't  write!  My  Massa  never  learnt 
me  to  write !  But  I  should  be  glad  to  do  most  any 
thing.  I  can  take  care  of  your  clothes,  black  your 
boots,  wait  on  table,  and  do  a  right  smart  heap 
o' things." 

"  What !     Are  you  a  slave  ? " 

"Yes." 

"  Why,  I  had 'nt  noticed  any  African  features." 

"  My  father  was  a  white  man — Mr.  Barnes,  my 
former  master." 

"What's  your  name?" 

"  Charley  Barnes." 

"  Whom  do  you  belong  to  now  ?" 

"  Mr.  Oviatt,  on street.  He 's  from  Connect 
icut." 

"You'd  easily  pass  for  white." 

"  Yes.  But  if  you  notice  my  hair  carefully,  you'll 
see  it  a  little  kinky  about  the  roots.  There 's  many 
slaves  a  heap  whiter 'n  me." 

Lieutenant  Julius  Tobias  employed  him  as  his  ser 
vant,  gave  him  the  name  of  Julius  Cassar  Thompson, 
and  in  a  few  weeks  got  him  enlisted  as  a  white  soldier 
in  the  First  Louisiana  regiment.  There  he  served  faith 
fully  and  gallantly,  to  the  great  grief  of  Mr.  Oviatt, 
who  was  afraid  some  harm  would  befall  his  valuable 
chattel,  and  often  called  to  enquire  after  his  welfare. 

In  spite  of  Butler's  stringent  and  repeated  orders, 
the  negroes  would  get  inside  the  building,  which  was 
besieged  daily  by  owners  hunting  for  their  slippery 
property.  Some  of  these  chattels  had  their  backs 


63 

shockingly  lacerated  by  whipping ;  others  had  huge 
freshly-burned  marks  of  the  branding  iron.  Many 
had  chains  on  their  wrists,  ankles  and  necks.  A  few 
wore  great  iron  collars  with  long  projecting  prongs, 
like  the  spokes  of  a  wheel.  More  than  once  did  the 
writer  of  this  history  work  till  past  midnight  filing  off 
these  collars.  "  I  used  to  think,"  said  Captain  McCord, 
"  that  the  stories  about  cruel  treatment  of  slaves  were 
exaggerated ;  but  the  reality  is  fully  equal  to  the 
worst  description."  It  was  hard  to  resist  the  piteous 
appeals  of  these  slaves  for  protection.  And  even 
when  received  within  our  quarters,  they  were  not 
safe.  Repeatedly  slaves  were  seized  in  the  Custom 
House,  sometimes  by  the  connivance  of  United  States 
officers;  repeatedly  were  they  ^knocked  down,  and 
brutally  dragged  away  from  under  the  folds  of  the 
"  Flag  of  the  Free."  Colonel  Warner  rescued  one  ot 
these  victims  at.  considerable  personal  risk.  The 
captain  of  Company  H  was  Officer  of  the  Day,  on  the 
6th  of  June.  That  day,  one  of  the  Quartermaster's 
employees  was  violently  torn  away  by  armed  police 
men,  and  was  dragged  across  Canal  Street,  in  spite  of 
his  vigorous  resistance,  in  the  midst  of  a  great  crowd. 
The  captain  was  notified  of  the  high-handed  outrage 
in  time  to  interpose.  Drawing  his  sword  and  seizing 
a  revolver,  he  rushed  to  the  scene,  forced  his  way  to 
the  center  of  the  mob,  released  the  negro,  brought  the 
two  men-stealers  back  in  custody,  and  lodged  them  in 
the  guard  house. 

Another  time,  the  same  captain,  as  Officer  of  the 
Day,  stood  at  the  door  on  Magazine  Street,  through 
which  Butler  usually  entered.  A  venerable  looking 


64 

gentleman  with  white  neck-tie  approached,  and  the 
following  conversation  ensued : 

"  Captain,  I  would  like  to  come  into  the  Custom 
House  and  look  round  a  little." 

"What  for?" 

"  I  want  to  look  for  a  boy  of  mine  that  has  run 
away,  and  I  think  he's  inside." 

"  Oh !    You  want  to  come  in  and  hunt  for  a  nigger  ?" 

"  Yes.  He  *s  a  boy  I  've  always  been  kind  to — al 
ways  treated  him  as  one  of  the  family.  He 's  always 
had  every  thing  he  wanted.  It 's  very  strange  he  should 
treat  me  so.  But  they're  an  ungrateful  race." 

"  I  dont  think  I  can  admit  you  without  a  pass  from 
General  Butler  to  come  in  and  hunt  your  nigger." 

"  Cant  I  go  in  and  see  the  General  ?" 

"  Not  about  the  nigger.  The  General  has  more 
important  business.  Besides,  you  are  probably  aware 
that  the  United  States  Government  forbids  its  officers 
to  return  fugitive  slaves  to  their  masters." 

"  But  the  boy  is  my  property — my  own  nigger." 

"We  can't  investigate  questions  of  that  sort.  The 
military  law  don't  acknowledge  the  right  of  one  man 
to  own  another." 

"  You  come  here  pretending  to  respect  our  rights  ; 
our  constitutional  rights,  our  bible  rights ;  and  yet 
you  wont  let  me  get  back  my  nigger,  my  nigger  that's 
my  lawful  property.  I  say  it's  unconstitutional,  it's 
inconsistent,  it's  unchristian." 

"  I  dont  know  whether  you  own  the  nigger,  or  the 
nigger  owns  you.  I  would  as  soon  deliver  you  to 
him,  as  him  to  you.  I  tell  you  we  can't  investigate 
such  questions." 

"  This  is  strange  language — strange  language !" 


65 

"  Very  common  language  where  I  came  from.  I 
guess  it'll  be  common  here  before  long.  Look  here, 
sir.  You  appear  to  be  a  minister.  What  do  you 
make  of  that  passage  which  says,  '  Thou  shalt  not  de 
liver  unto  his  master  the  servant  which  is  escaped 
from  his  master  unto  thee'  ?  " 

"  I  dont  choose  to  argue  that  question,  sir.  Do  you 
say  I  can't  come  in  to  look  for  my  nigger  ?" 

"  That's  what  I  said." 

"  Can't  I  come  in  to  see  General  Butler  ? " 

u  Good  morning,  sir." 

"  Good  morning." 

Such  cases  were  of  daily  occurrence.  Some  officers 
were  disposed  to  allow  indiscriminate  slave-hunting. 
Large  bribes  were  offered. 

To  protect  our  servants  still  more  from  the  man- 
stealers  we  gave  our  blacks  new  names.  Among  them 
were  John  C.  Calhoun,  Horace  Greeley,  Tiglath  Pile- 
ser,  Henry  Ward  Beecher,  Julius  Ca3sar  Thompson, 
Solomon,  Wendell  Phillips,  Prince  of  Darkness,  King 
Richard,  Polyphemus  (a  one-eyed  man),  Sardanapa- 
lus  (a  "  slow  coach"). 

The  change  of  views  at  Head  Quarters  in  regard  to 
slavery,  was  announced  by  deeds  rather  than  words. 
One  night  twenty  or  thirty  slaves  fled  from  a  planta 
tion,  and  attempted  to  enter  New  Orleans.  But  a 
body  of  policemen  sent  out  to  patrol  by  the  slave 
holders,  who  still  tenaciously  clung  to  the  reeling  in 
stitution,  undertook  to  arrest  them  as  they  entered 
the  city  limits.  The  negroes  were  armed  with  cane- 
knives  ;  the  police,  with  pistols ;  and  a  hard  fight  en 
sued.  Some  negroes  were  shot  dead,  others  were 
severely  wounded  ;  but  eleven  of  them  reached  the 


66 

Custom  House  just  as  morning  tinted  the  east.  The 
Officer  of  the  Day,  making  his  nocturnal  visits  to  the 
sentinels,  came  to  the  contrabands,  heard  their  story, 
and  determined  to  secure  fair  play,  if  possible,  to  men 
who  had  shown  by  their  courage  that  they  deserved 
liberty.  That  day,  on  complaint  of  their  overseers, 
the  slaves  were  arraigned  before  Judge  Bell  for  vio 
lating  the  peace,  riotous  conduct,  assault  with  danger 
ous  weapons,  and  the  like.  The  case  was  pretty 
clearly  proved.  Captain  Sprague  acted  as  counsel, 
and  insisted  on  the  failure  of  the  prosecution  to  iden 
tify.  Judge  Bell  cut  him  short  in  the  midst  of  his 
argument,  and  much  to  his  chagrin  said,  "  I  think 
there  can  be  no  doubt  about  their  guilt."  "  But,  your 
Honor,"  said  the  captain,  "  there  surely  is  no  evidence 
to  inculpate  more  than  two  or  three,  and  are  these 
eleven  to  be  delivered  to  their  masters  on  such  a  pre 
tence  as  that  ?"  A  roguish  twinkle  and  a  knowing 
smile  from  Judge  Bell,  re-assured  the  captain  as  he 
proceeded  with  his  decision :  "  I  find  them  all  guilty, 
and  sentence  them  to  six  months  at  Fort  Jackson  ! " 
This  was  precisely  what  the  owners  did  not  want. 
One  of  them  went  to  General  Butler.  Lieutenant 
Tibbets  was  present  and  heard  the  master  ask  the 
General,  "  What  assurance  have  I  that  I  can  get  my 
niggers  back  after  their  six  months  at  Fort  Jackson  ?" 
"None  at  all,"  replied  the  General.  "Then  I'm 
afraid  I  shall  never  get  'em  again,"  sadly  exclaimed 
the  proprietor  of  the  sable  merchandize.  "  Very 
likely,"  responded  the  General.  They  found  their 
way  subsequently  to  the  Corps  d'  Afrique. 

Surgeon of  our  army,  an  associate  of  Dr. 

Fisher  in  hospital,  had  employed  a  fugitive  slave  as 


67 

• 

hospital  nurse.  The  former  master,  finding  the  girl 
in  the  street  near  the  hospital,  forcibly  seized  her  and 
hurried  her  off  to  his  home.  The  surgeon  brought 
the  matter  to  the  attention  of  General  Butler.  The 
General  opened  the  law  books  and  found  that,  by  the 
Code  of  Louisiana,  the  least  penalty  for  abducting  a 
slave  was  a  term  of  two  years  in  the  Parish  Prison. 
He  took  the  position  that  the  slave  being  rightfully  in 
the  surgeon's  possession,  had  been  abducted  by  her  own 
master !  Consequently,  he  sentenced  the  patrician 
owner  to  two  years  in  the  Parish  Prison ;  a  decision 
which  made  the  New  Orleans  aristocrats  open  their 
eyes  very  wide.  The  prince  of  policemen  was  pro 
gressing  fast. 

The  rebel  Governor,  Moore,  having  raised,  armed, 
drilled,  and  reviewed  a  regiment  of  negroes,  and  call 
ed  them  into  service  in  behalf  of  the  Confederate 
cause,  Butler  took  the  very  same  appeal  in  which  the 
Governor  had  summoned  these  colored  men  to  the 
side  of  treason  and  slavery,  and,  changing  only  a  few 
words,  the  General  bade  them  fight  for  union  and 
liberty.  Three  regiments  were  quickly  raised,  and 
officered  by  colored  men,  whereat  all  the  confederates 
sent  up  a  howl !  How  atrocious  the  man  who  had 
first  dared  to  follow  their  own  example ! 

Some  of  the  city  magnates  having  threatened  But 
ler  with  French  or  English  intervention,  he  silenced 
them  by  declaring  with  tremendous  emphasis,  "  Gen 
tlemen,  I  warn  you  that  if  England  or  France  inter 
venes,  I  shall  call  on  Africa  to  intervene,  and  the  men 
tliat  cut  your  bread  to-day  ivill  cut  your  throats  to 
morrow  /" 

These  anecdotes  are  recorded  as  illustrations  of  life 
in  the  New  Orleans  Custom  House  in  the  summer  of 


68 

1862.  There  was  no  escaping  the  omnipresent  negro. 
It  did  not  require  much  discernment  to  see  the  signs 
of  the  times.  Butler  did  not  have  a  very  tender  con 
science,  but  he  had  a  great  deal  of  tough  common 
sense.  And  even  a  little  common  sense  will  some 
times  wonderfully  light  up  one's  path.  He  was  a  rath 
er  rough  specimen  of  civilization,  but  not  a  savage ; 
severe,  but  not  cruel;  summary,  but  not  a  Jeffries; 
as  far  removed  from  Polyphemus  as  from  Abdiel.  He 
had  a  Napoleonic  vigor,  but  a  kind  heart.  He  some 
times  stooped  to  blackguard,  but  often er  rose  to  gene 
rous  deeds.  He  never  was  marked  as  a  perfect  man, 
and  he  never  was  the  slave  of  low  vice.  If  some  of 
his  subalterns  stole  books,  furniture  and  plate,  he  was 
not  therefore  a  Yerres.  If  he  kicked  a  fashionable 
courtezan  down  stairs,  who  had  been  put  up  by  the 
waggish  secession  lords  to  call  on  Mrs.  Butler,  that 
did  not  make  him  a  Haynan.  If  he  unceremoniously 
bade  the  rich  leaders  of  rebellion  "stand  and  deliver," 
he  bounteously  fed  the  poor  victims  of  rebellion  from 
the  proceeds.  If  he  told  the  high-born  ladies  who  spit 
on  Federal  officers  that  such  conduct  would  make 
them  "  liable  to  the  treatment  of  common  women 
plying  their  avocation,"  there  was  none  more  prompt 
than  he  to  punish  any  officer  or  soldier  who  should 
interpret  that  order  as  licensing  to  insult  any  woman. 
During  the  summer  several  of  our  companies  were 
temporarily  detached  from  the  rest  of  the  regiment. 
Company  A,  Lieutenant  Cornwall  commanding,  was 
stationed  at  Hickox's  Landing  on  the  lake  ;  Company 
E,  Captain  Tisdale  commanding,  was  detailed  as  Pro 
vost  Guard,  (with  Captain,  afterward  Colonel,  Stafford 
Provost  Marshal) ;  Company  I,  Captain  Schleiter 


69 

commanding,  was  stationed  as  body-guard  for  General 
Butler  at  General  Twiggs'  house ;  Company  K,  Cap 
tain  Mitchell  commanding,  as  guard  at  Colonel  Birge's 
head-quarters,  in  St.  Charles  Street.  Squads  were 
stationed  as  guards  at  other  points  in  the  city ;  as  at 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Warner's  house,  Carondelet  Street; 
Adjutant  Grosvenor's  house.  Burgundy  Street ;  and 
other  places. 

Occasionally  an  expedition  was  sent  up  the  Mississip 
pi  or  across  Lake  Pontchartrain  to  procure  sugar,  corn, 
cattle,  cotton,  and  other  supplies,  or  to  chastise  par 
ties  of  guerillas.  Companies  B  and  C,  under  com 
mand  of  Captains  Comstock  and  Blinn,  respectively, 
embarked  as  part  of  a  force  under  Major  (afterwards 
General)  Strong,  to  cross  the  lake,  surprise  and  cap 
ture  the  [rebel  force  at  Pass  Manchac  and  Pontcha- 
toula,  the  head-quarters  of  the  eccentric  general,  Jeff. 
Thompson.  The  steamers  grounded  as  they  approach 
ed  their  destination,  and  only  a  portion  of  the  troops 
disembarked.  They  were  but  partially  successful. 
The  rebels  rallied,  drove  them  back,  and  inflicted  a 
loss  of  a  considerable  number  killed,  wounded,  and 
prisoners.  Among  the  latter  was  Dr.  Avery,  surgeon 
of  the  Ninth  Connecticut,  a  pretty  good  specimen  of  a 
smart  Yankee.  While  a  prisoner,  lie  beat  Jeff,  at 
cards,  got  him  drunk,  and  challenged  him  to  a  horse 
race,  in  which  he  managed  to  run  Jeff,  off  among  some 
trees.  Jeff,  fell  from  his  horse  and  nearly  broke  his 
neck.  Altogether,  the  rebel  general  gained  some  new 
views  of  Yankee  character. 

On  the  return  of  this  expedition,  Major  Strong 
represented  it  as  a  brilliant  success,  inasmuch  as  he 
captured  a  sword  and  a  pair  of  spurs.  He  was  soon 


70 

promoted  to  be  General,  and  afterwards  fell,  gallantly 
fighting,  at  Fort  Wagner. 

In  August,  Companies  A  and  K,  under  command 
of  Captain  Mitchell,  made  a  foraging  expedition  up 
the  Mississippi,  and  returned,  partly  by  steam-boat 
and  partly  by  land,  down  the  left  bank  to  New  Or 
leans.  They  had  some  skirmishing  with  guerillas, 
but  without  loss  returned,  bringing  a  few  prisoners, 
and  an  immense  number  of  horses,  cattle,  mules, 
sheep,  swine  and  poultry.  While  up  the  river,  Cap 
tain  Fuller,  with  a  detachment  of  Company  D,  went 
up  on  a  steamer,  and  by  some  misunderstanding,  they 
were  smartly  shelled  by  one  of  our  own  gunboats. 

On  Monday,  September  22,  Captain 'Sprague,  with 
fifty  men  of  Company  H,  proceeded  up  the  Mississippi 
as  a  guard  to  the  Steamboat  Iberville.  On  the  23d 
they  reached  a  point  six  miles  from  Bayou  Goula. 
Here  they  found  a  Frenchman  with  four  hundred 
cattle,  trying  to  cross  the  river  to  the  same  side  as  the 
rebel  rendezvous,  not  many  miles  distant.  Captain 
Sprague  demanded  his  papers;  whereupon  he  pro 
duced  a  pass  dated  a  few  days  earlier  from  the  United 
States  Provost  Marshal  at  Jefferson  City.  The  cap 
tain,  not  satisfied,  searched  him,  and  found  another 
similar  pass  in  his  pocket  signed  by  the  rebel  colonel 
commanding  in  that  vicinity ;  also  a  permit  from  the 
rebel  general  Dick  Taylor.  It  was  decided  to  take 
him  and  his  cattle  to  New  Orleans.  If  he  proved  to 
be  honest,  he  could  have  his  cattle  on  paying  twenty 
•dollars  a  head  for  transportation ;  if  dishonest,  his 
cattle  would  go  to  the  United  States  Commissariat. 
In  any  case  it  was  thought  unsafe  for  his  cattle  to  be 
so  near  Camp  Moore.  We  commenced  taking  them 


71 

on  board.  They  were  the  wildest,  fiercest  of  Texas 
oxen.  The  fifty  soldiers  formed  a  circle  around  them, 
taking  the  position  of  "Guard  against  Infantry!" 
Crowding  in  a  compact  mass,  which  moved  like  a  roll 
ed  wheel  circularly  round  the  center,  the  desperate 
beasts  manifested  a  most  passionate  hostility  to  man. 
Often  two  or  three  would  dart  off  in  a  tangent, 
trampling  down,  as  if  all  flesh  were  grass,  the  soldiers 
that  stood  in  their  way.  Bayonets  had  no  terrors  for 
them ;  nearly  twenty  were  bent  double  on  the  fore 
heads  of  the  brutes.  Others  of  the  infuriated  animals 
would  rush  along  the  plank,  cross  the  steamer  and 
plunge  into  the  stream.  Gunboat  No.  8  "  headed  them 
off"  by  steaming  up  and  down  the  river,  and  drove 
them  back  to  the  same  bank.  Occasionally  a  few 
would  be  secured  on  our  boat:  This  exciting  affair 
lasted  from  noon  till  night ;  when  the  frantic  beasts 
made  one  grand  charge,  broke  en  masse  through  the 
line,  and  dashed  away  into  the  darkness.  The  region 
being  infested  with  guerillas,  and  the  captain  of  the 
steamboat  being  very  drunk,  we  steamed  rapidly 
down  with  one  hundred  and  seventy-six  cattle,  and 
eight  hundred  hogsheads  of  sugar.  Reaching  New 
Orleans  September  25th,  Captain  S.  repaired  immedi 
ately  to  General  Butler,  stated  the  facts  of  the  seizure, 
submitted  the  papers,  and  said  he  had  felt  some  hesi 
tation  about  taking  the  cattle  .by  force.  After  about 
five  minutes  examination  and  study,  the  general  fixed 
his  half- shut  eye  on  the  captain  and  with  a  smile  said, 
"  Captain,  you  did  right.  You  followed  the  old  rule 
in  Hoyle, '  When  you're  in  doubt,  take  the  trick*!" 

In  July,  1862,  Major  Holcomb,  of  the  Thirteenth 
Connecticut,  was  empowered  to  raise  a  regiment  of 


72 

white  Louisiana  volunteers.  His  recruiting  station 
was  the  old  United  States  barracks,  a  few  miles  below 
the  Custom  House  and  on  the  same  bank.  Company 
G,  Thirteenth  Connecticut,  under  Captain  Finley 
(successor  of  Captain  Gilbert)  and  Lieutenant  Baker, 
was  stationed  there  as  a  guard.  The  Thirteenth  con 
tributed  quite  a  number  to  the  offices  in  the  First 
Louisiana.  Besides  Major  Holcomb,  the  following 
among  others  were  commissioned  :  Commissary  Ser 
geant  Charles  A.  Tracy ;  First  Sergeants  Oscar  F. 
Merrill,  Company  H,  and  George  A.  Mayne,  Company 
D  ;  Sergeants  James  T.  Smith,  James  M.  Gardner, 
Charles  H.  Grosvenor,  George  G.  Smith ;  Corporal 
Deveraux  Jones ;  Private  Leonidas  R.  Hall.  We  lost 
also  scores  of  other  valuable  men,  who  were  detached 
from  the  regiment  to  officer  colored  troops,  and  to  act 
as  clerks,  orderlies,  telegraph  operators,  messengers, 
recruiting  agents,  signal-corps  men,  and  the  like.  No 
regiment  was  so  constantly  culled  from,  and  yet  the 
supply  of  good  men  seemed  inexhaustible. 

Parton,  in  his  Butler  in  New  Orleans,  relates  what 
he  considers  a  pretty  good  joke  perpetrated  at  the  ex 
pense  of  the  Thirteenth.  It  appears  that  two  very 

handsome  girls,  the  Misses  C e,  of  New  Orleans, 

who  had  made  deep  inroads  into  the  affections  of  cer 
tain  officers,  and  who  professed  a  great  love  for  the 
Union,  had  made  a  beautiful  embroidered  silk  flag 
for  the  Thirteenth  Connecticut.  Arrangements  were 
perfected  to  have  it  presented  in  fine  style  on  the  com 
ing  Fourth  of  July.  The  day  came.  General  Butler, 
with  his  brilliant  Staff,  reviewed  the  regiment  on  the 
levee.  The  troops  looked  as  beautiful  as  extraordi 
nary  efforts  could  make  even  the  Thirteenth;  resplen- 


73 

dent  in  brass  and  steel,  neat  clothing,  and  polished 
accoutrements.  The  review  closing  and  the  distin 
guished  officers  taking  proper  stations,  the  fair  donors 
of  the  flag  rode  up  to  the  front  of  the  regiment  in  a 
magnificent  carriage,  under  the  escort  of  our  most 

stylish   officer,   the   handsome  Lieutenant  T ,  of 

Company  K.  The  banner  was  brought  out,  uncoiled, 
and  presented  to  Colonel  Birge  in  a  neat  and  tasteful 
speech  by  one  of  these  dark-eyed  beauties. .  Colonel 
Birge  received  it  in  a  dignified  and  graceful  manner, 
amid  thunders  of  applause.  Everybody  was  happy 
that  day  !  But  how  horrified  were  certain  fine  gentle 
men  on  the  morrow,  when  it  began  to  be  whispered 
around  that  those  seraphic  patriots  had  African  blood 
under  that  celestial  skin !  In  fact  they  were  perfect 
specimens  of  the  effects  of  that  miscegenation  which 
the  Chivalry  of  the  South  condemn  so  loudly  and 
practice  so  freely! 

The  halcyon  days  of  the  summer  of  1862  quickly 
passed.  Colonel  Birge  longed  for  active  service  in 
the  field,  and  the  regiment  shared  his  desire.  They 
thirsted  for  adventures,  marching,  fighting,  and  "  glo 
ry."  "  Fortunati,  si  sua  bona  norint ! " 


CHAPTER    III. 

On  ^londay,  September  29,  1862,  orders  came  to 
hold  the  regiment  in  readiness  to  move  at  ten  o'clock 
next  morning.  On  the  30th  we  accordingly  left  the 
Custom  House,  and  went  into  camp  close  by  Green 
ville  Station  Carrollton,  some  five  miles  above  New 
Orleans.  It  was  near  the  residence  of  Honorable 
Christian  Roselius,  who  often  visited  us.  The  ground 
had  been  a  Confederate  rendezvous,  called  by  the 
name  of  Camp  Lewis.  We  christened  it  Camp  Kear- 
jiey,  in  honor  of  that  valiant  and  lamented  General. 

Here  we  formed  a  portion  of  what  was  known  as 
the  Reserve  Brigade,  under  the  command  of  General 
Godfrey  Weitzel,  who  had  just  received  his  commis 
sion  as  Brigadier.  The  other  regiments  were  the 
Twelfth  Connecticut,  Colonel  Colburn,  the  First  Lou 
isiana,  Colonel  Holcomb,  the  Seventy  Fifth  New  York, 
Lieutenant  Colonel  Merrit,  the  Eighth  New  Hamp 
shire,  Colonel  Fearing ;  with  Perkins'  Massachusetts 
Cavalry,  Barret's,  Godfrey's,  and  Williams'  Louisiana 
Cavalry,  Carruth's  Sixth  Massachusetts  Battery,  and 
Thompson's  First  Maine  Battery.  We  spent  twenty 
four  days  here.  Colonel  Birge  being  sick  at  his  house 
in  New  Orleans,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Warner  drilled 
the  regiment.  Captain  Comstock  undertook  the  same 
task,  but  the  regiment  was  not  yet  quite  well  enough 
drilled  to  form  at  this  time  an  oblique  square  !  Gen 
eral  Weitzel  personally  gave  the  officers  instruction 


75 

and  practice  in  skirmishing,  and  showed  himself  an 
accomplished  drill-master.  The  men  were  exercised 
in  target  shooting,  as  well  as  the  usual  tactics.  On 
the  fourth  of  October  the  General  carefully  inspected 
his  brigade,  and  complimented  us,  especially  the  Thir 
teenth,  in  very  high  terms.  On  the  eighteenth  of  Oc 
tober  there  was  a  grand  review  of  the  Reserve  Brigade 
by  General  Butler.  We  marched  down  to  New  Or 
leans  and  were  paraded  in  Canal  Street,  where  the 
review  was  held.  We  returned  to  Camp  Kearney  the 
same  evening,  where  rations  of  water,  slightly  tinged 
with  whiskey,  were  distributed  to  the  tired  soldiers  by 
the  Quartermaster,  who  said  he  was  "fearful  of  the 
effects  of '  whiskey  straight'  upon  the  empty  stomach !" 

At  Camp  Kearney  we  had  Sibley  tents,  and  were 
very  comfortably  situated.  The  regiment  was  a  thou 
sand  strong.  Company  A,  however,  was  absent  until 
the  middle  of  October,  at  "  Dan  Hickox's"  on  the 
lake. 

The  principal  difficuty  at  this  time  was  in  getting 
wood.  Our  Quartermaster,  never  long  at  a  loss  for 
expedients,  finally  proceeded  to  the  depot  of  the  Car- 
rollton  Rail  Road,  and  commenced  loading  his  teams. 
The  Superintendent  is  said  to  have  come  up,  and  to 
have  held  the  following  dialogue  with  Bromley : 

"  What  are  you  going  to  do  with  that  wood  ? " 

"  Cook  rations.  (Go  on  with  your  loading,  cor 
poral.)" 

"Who  are  you?" 

"Bromley,  Q.  M.  Thirteenth  C.  V.  Allow  me, 
sir,  in  turn  to  inquire  whom  I  have  the  distinguished 
honor  to  address  ?" 

"I'm  Superintendent  of  this  railroad." 


76 

'"  All  right.    (Go  on  with  your  loading,  corporal.)" 

"  That  wood  belongs  to  the  railroad." 

"  So  I  supposed." 

"  But  1  forbid  you  to  take  it." 

"  Put  your  protest  in  writing  in  red  ink.  Tie  it  up 
with  a  piece  of  red  tape.  I  '11  approve  it  and  forward 
it.  You  see,  we've  got  to  have  wood  to  cook  with. 
Cant  eat  beans  and  pork  raw.  Pd  prefer  'em  raw,  but 
the  men  are  so  unreasonable  they  want  'em  cooked." 

"  But  that  wood 's  necessary  for  the  use  of  the  rail 
road." 

"  It 's  necessary  for  the  use  of  the  Thirteenth  Con 
necticut." 

"  I  should  like  to  know  how  a  locomotive  is  going 
to  run  without  wood." 

"  I  've  often  wondered  how  a  regiment  could  be  run 
without  wood." 

"  General  Butler  orders  me  to  run  this  railroad." 

"  Colonel  Birge  orders  me  to  run  the  Thirteenth 
Connecticut." 

"  Who 's  Colonel  Birge  ?" 

"<  Who's  Colonel  Birge?'  Why— the  d— deuce  ! 
dont  you  know  Colonel  Birge  ?  If  there 's  one  man 
above  another  that  everybody  knows  it's  Colonel 
Birge." 

"  Will  Colonel  Birge  pay  for  the  wood  ?" 

"  Colonel  Birge  pay  for  the  wood  !  why,  no.  It 's 
a  reflection  on  your  sagacity  to  ask  such  a  question." 

"  Who  will  pay  for  it  ? " 

"  The  Quartermaster's  Department.  If  there 's  one 
thing  above  another  that  I  admire  in  the  Quartermas 
ter's  Department,  it's  because  they  '11  always  pay  for 
wood.  Now,  my  friend,  of  the  railroad  persuasion,  if 


YOU 


77 

,__  come  and  see  me,  I'll  give  you  receipts,  and 
help  you  fix  up  the  proper  papers  to  present  to  the 
Quartermaster's  Department." 

"  How  long  will  it  be  before  I  get  pay  ? " 

"  It  will  be  at  some  future  day— the  futurest  kind 
of  a  day,  I  'm  afraid." 

The  superintendent  posted  off  to  see  Colonel  Birge. 
Bromley  preceded  him,  however,  and  cautioned  the 
sentinels  to  observe  the  rule  to  admit  no  citizen  with 
out  a  pass.  "  Halt !"  said  the  sentry ;  and  the  super 
intendent  gave  up  the  pursuit  in  despair. 

The  instructions  which  Bromley  gave  to  Corporal 
Strange,  a  member  of  his  Staff,  as  he  termed  him, 
were  quite  significant.  "  Strange,  we're  going  on  an 
expedition.  I  want  my  Staff  to  be  on  the  look-out  for 
turkeys,  geese,  pigs,  and  sheep.  Doiit  be  the  aggres 
sor  in  any  contest.  Stand  strictly  on  the  defensive. 
But  if  you  're  attacked  by  any  of  these  animals,  show 
fight,  and  dont  forget  to  bring'  off  the  enemy's  dead!" 

On  the  twenty-first  of  October  orders  came  to  em 
bark  on  steamers.  Next  day  the  Thirteenth  moved 
on  board  with  the  remainder  of  the  infantry.  Imme 
diately,  however,  the  orders  were  countermanded,  and 
we  returned  to  camp,  and  were  held  in  readiness  to 
move  at  a  moment's  notice. 

The  plan  of  the  La  Fourche  campaign,  on  which 
we  were  about  entering,  as  I  learned  a  few  days  pre 
viously  from  a  discussion  between  General  Butler  and 
some  of  his  subordinate  officers,  and  from  subsequent 
developments,  was  substantially  as  follows : 

Weitzel's  brigade  was  to  drive  the  enemy  down  the 
Bayou  La  Fourche  ;  the  Eighth  Vermont,  Colonel 
Thomas,  and  the  First  Louisiana,  Native  Guards, 


78 

(colored),  Colonel  Stafford,  were  to  intercept  them 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  La  Fourche  Rail-Road 
crossing,  three  miles  below  Thibodaux,  which  is  thir 
ty-six  miles  from  Donaldsonville ;  a  naval  force  co 
operating  with  the  Twenty-first  Indiana,  under  Colonel 
(afterwards  General)  McMillan,  was  to  pass  around 
the  coast,  ascend  the  Atchafalaya  river  as  far  as  Bra- 
shear  City,  and  so  cut  off  the  enemy  from  their  only 
available  line  of  retreat,  which  would  be  across  Ber- 
wicks  Bay.  It  was  essential  to  its  success  that  the 
arrival  of  our  troops  by  rail  at  the  crossing  below 
Thibodaux,  and  of  the  gunboats  at  Brashear  City, 
should  be  nearly  simultaneous  with  the  successful 
advance  of  Weitzel  on  Thibodaux. 

On  the  twenty-fourth  of  October  we  again  embark 
ed.  Under  convoy  of  three  gunboats  we  proceeded 
about  ninety  miles  up  the  river  to  Donaldsonville,  La., 
where  we  arrived  next  morning,  it  being  Sunday.  We 
disembarked.  For  that  latitude  the  day  was  very  cold. 
The  troops  were  quartered  in  the  Market-House, 
Court-House,  Theatre,  abandoned  hotels  and  dwell 
ing-houses.  The  Twelfth  Connecticut  occupied  a 
large  church.  Many  excesses  were  committed  by  the 
soldiers ;  for  which  General  Weitzel  took  the  blame 
partly  on  himself.  "  I  have  violated,"  said  he,  "  one 
of  the  first  principles  of  campaigning,  never  to  en 
camp  in  a  village,  when  one  can  just  as  well  remain 
outside." 

Donaldsonville  was  a  neat  and  thriving  place  before 
the  war,  but  had  now  suffered  from  a  shelling  by  our 
gunboats  in  retaliation  for  guerilla  firing  on  Farra- 
gut's  fleet  at  that  point.  It  was  destined  to  suffer  still 
more  severely  during  its  investment  by  the  rebels  the 


following  summer.  The  enemy  made  no  opposition 
to  our  landing,  but  retired  along  the  Bayou  La  Four- 
che,  which  flows  from  the  Mississippi  at  this  point  in  a 
south-east  course  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

Sunday  night,  October  25,  was  very  cold,  windy 
and  uncomfortable.     Next  morning  overcoats  were  in 
demand.    Leaving  the  First  Louisiana  to  hold  Donald- 
sonville,  and  throwing  out  skirmishers  and  flankers 
the  brigade  moved  along  the  Bayou  in  pursuit  of  the 
enemy.     These,  to  the  number  of  about  five  hundred 
cavalry,  received  us  as  we  advanced.     Their  intention 
was  to   avoid  battle  until  the  troops  at  Thibodaux, 
about  two  thousand  in  number,  should  concentrate  at. 
some   strong  position.      The    Thirteenth,  with    the 
greater  portion  of  the  brigade,  moved  down  the  left 
bank.     The  enemy,  like  ourselves,  were  on  both  sides, 
their  rear  occasionally  skirmishing  with  our  van,  and 
their   numbers   constantly    increasing.      They   were 
commanded  by  General  Mouton.     We  passed  several 
villages,  and  saw  two  camps,  just  vacated,  the  fires 
still  blazing.     One  of  these  was  well  built,  with  com 
fortable  cane-roofed  huts.    These  quickly  disappeared 
in  smoke,  the  burning  stalks  bursting  with  loud  ex 
plosions,  which  rattled  like  pistol  firing.     At  several 
points   we   saw  hastily-constructed   breastworks  and 
rifle-pits,  which  the.  enemy  abandoned  without  a  con 
test.    The  soldiers  straggled  a  great  deal  on  this,  their 
first  march,  but  committed  few  depredations.     Great 
numbers  of  negroes  left  their  owners'  plantations  and 
joined  us,  bringing  with  them  mules,  turkeys,  furni 
ture,  and  bundles  of  clothing.     It  was  the  first  time 
they  had  ever  seen  the  Yankees,  and  their  ivory  teeth 
and  shining  eyes  glistened  behind  every  fence,  as  they 


shouted,  "  Glory  to  God  !"  "  God  bless  you  'uns  !" 
They  were  only  too  happy  to  carry  our  soldiers'  knap 
sacks,  and  this  satisfaction  was  quite  mutual. 

We  passed  that  Monday  night  on  the  bare  ground 
without  tents  or  other  shelter.  It  was  our  first  night, 
as  a  regiment,  in  the  open  air.  Happy  the  man  who 
was  able  to  procure  a  few  cornstalks  for  a  pillow. 
Suffering  from  the  cold  we  nevertheless  slept  pretty 
well,  and  were  in  good  spirits  for  the  battle  which 
occurred  next  morning. 

We  were  ignorant  of  the  real  position  and  strength 
of  the  enemy,  and  knew  not  on  which  side  of  the 
bayou  to  expect  the  principal  resistance.  So  the 
Thirteenth  marched  on  gaily  for  an  hour  or  two  with 
banners  flying  and  music  from  our  magnificent  band. 
A  scout  named  Miller  was  our  guide.  About  nine 
o'clock,  Company  A.,  being  deployed  as  skirmishers 
under  the  command  of  Cornwell,  who  had  just  been 
promoted  to  a  captaincy  (vice  Bidwell,  dismissed, 
Lieutenant  Woodruff  having  resigned),  met  the 
enemy's  pickets  and  skirmishing  commenced  on  the 
left  bank.  At  the  same  time,  very  nearly,  the  scouts 
of  Perkins'  cavalry  on  the  other  side  met  the  enemy's 
skirmishers. 

The  rebel  position  was  well  chosen.  It  was  at  a 
bend  in  the  Bayou  La  Fourche,  a>mile  above  Labadie- 
ville,  at  a  point  known  as  Georgia  Landing.  Here 
they  dug  extensive  rifle-pits  and  made  embrasures  in 
the  levee,  which  admirably  answered  the  purpose  of  a 
parapet.  Their  right  wing  consisted  of  Sims's  battery, 
quite  celebrated  in  Louisiana,  a  regiment  of  militia, 
and  two  or  three  hundred  irregular  cavalry.  Their 
center  consisted  of  a  battery  of  field  pieces,  the  splen- 


81 

did  Crescent  City  regiment,  and  another  veteran  regi 
ment  from  Bragg's  army,  then  at  home  recruiting ; 
and  a  few  hundred  cavalry.  Their  left  wing  con 
tained  a  section  of  a  battery  and  about  five  hundred 
cavalry.  Their  principal  rifle  pit  was  behind  and 
almost  directly  under  a  stout  cypress  post  fence,  which 
extended  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  perpendicular  to 
the  course  of  the  bayou  on  its  right  bank.  Here  their 
two  veteran  regiments  lay.  Immediately  in  rear  of 
this  was  a  thick  wood  which  concealed  their  opera 
tions,  while  the  open  ground  in  front  would  leave  the 
federal  troops  in  full  view.  Most  important  of  all  was 
the  fine  bridge  across  the  bayou  and  only  a  mile  in 
their  rear,  by  means  of  which  they  could  rapidly  con 
centrate  their  whole  force  upon  whichever  wing  of  our 
little  army  they  might  select.  A  narrow  road  was 
along  the  levee  on  each  side  of  the  bayou. 

Our  main  force  being  on  the  left  bank,  we  had  only 
the  Eighth  New  Hampshire  and  Perkins'  cavalry  on 
the  right  bank.  Weitzel's  plan  was  to  advance  cau 
tiously,  feel  the  enemy  sufficiently  to  ascertain  his 
position ;  concentrate  rapidly  by  means  of  a  floating 
bridge,  if  matters  wore  a  favorable  aspect ;  fight  the 
enemy  and  drive  him  into  the  trap  at  Berwick's  bay, 
where  the  gunboats  were  supposed  to  have  already 
arrived.  The  floating  bridge  has  not  been  mentioned 
before.  It  proved  to  be  of  most  vital  importance.  It 
consisted  of  two  huge  Mississippi  flat-boats,  which  had 
been  towed  along  from  Donaldson ville  by  mules  and 
negroes  keeping  pace  with  the  rear  guard.  During 
Monday  night  it  had  occurred  to  Weitzel  that  it  might 
be  necessary  to  cut  down  the  levee,  to  allow  the  pas 
sage  of  artillery  over  the  bridge.  Pioneers  and  ne- 

8 


82 

groes  were   immediately  detailed  with  shovels  and 
pickaxes  to  be  in  readiness  for  that  work. 

The  plan  of  the  enemy  was  similar  :  to  concentrate 
the  whole  of  their  force  upon  a  portion  of  ours  by 
means  of  the  Labadieville  bridge.  They  attempted  the 
capture  of  our  right  wing,  not  knowing  our  ability  to 
make  a  sort  of  pontoon  bridge ;  or,  if  they  knew  of 
it,  yet  hoping  to  strike  the  Eighth  New  Hampshire 
and  Perkins'  cavalry  so  quickly  that  our  main  body 
could  not  bring  relief  in  season. 

Skirmishing  having  commenced  in  front  and  on  the 
left  of  the  Thirteenth  Connecticut,  Cornwall's  com 
pany  being  at  work,  and  the  artillery  on  both  sides 
being  engaged,  and  an  unknown  force  of  cavalry,  in 
fantry  and  artillery  before  us,  we  filed  from  the  levee 
road  into  an  open  field.     Here  one  of  our  batteries 
was  at  work.     We  threw  off  knapsacks  and  overcoats, 
leaving  a  few  half-sick  men  to  guard  them  who  were 
soon   afterwards   frightened   away    by   the    enemy's 
shells  !     The  Thirteenth  Connecticut  and  the  Seventy- 
fifth  New  York  now  formed  line  of  battle,  the  Thir 
teenth  being  on  the  right.     It  was  the  first  time  we 
had  formed  line  on  the  field  of  battle.     The  Twelfth 
Connecticut  was  still  acting  as  rear  guard.     In  front 
of  us  was  a  vast  field  covered  with  green,  full-grown 
cane,  standing  eight  or  ten  feet  high.     In  this  field  on 
its  further  side  the  enemy  were  likely  to  be  concealed. 
As  we  entered  it  everything  was  hid  from  view,  and 
there  was  little  noise  beyond  the  breaking  of  the  stalks 
as  we  vainly  endeavored  to  keep  in  line,  forcing  our 
way    through    the    well-nigh   impenetrable    growth. 
Nothing  but  the  regimental  colors  was  visible  above 
it.     Momentarily  we  expected   the   flash   of  hostile 


83 

rifles  in  our  faces  ;  yet  it  was  simply  impossible  to 
keep  a  regimental  line.  Without  orders  to  that  effect 
the  companies  gradually  fell  into  a  flank  movement, 
and  then  into  one  rank,  advancing  irregularly  by  the 
right  of  companies  to  the  front.  Several  of  the  deep 
draining  ditches  which  cross  these  fields  at  right 
angles  were  a  momentary  obstacle.  Had  the  enemy 
indeed  been  posted  in  the  field,  we  must  have  retired 
worsted ;  for  we  were  broken  completely  into  long 
single  files,  and  it  was  impossible  to  see  half-a-dozen 
rods  ahead.  Emerging  at  last,  breathless  with  the 
extraordinary  fatigue  of  that  rapid  march,  were  Col. 
Birge,  one  captain,  and  one  private,  William  Keating, 
Co.  H.  "  Well,  captain,  where's  the  Thirteenth  ?" 
said  Birge.  "  There's  one  of  them,"  he  replied, 
pointing  to  Keating  ;  "  the  rest  of  them  will  be  here  as 
soon  as  they  can  squeeze  through."  They  were  already 
arriving  in  squads,  and  soon  nearly  all  had  come  up. 
"  Where's  your  horse  ?"  said  Colonel  Birge  to  Lieu 
tenant-colonel  Warner.  "  I  couldn't  get  him  through, 
sir,"  was  the  reply.  "  I  got  mine  through,"  said 
Birge,  patting  with  pride  the  splendid  animal  he  rode, 
a  perfect  Bucephalus. 

While  we  were  struggling  with  infinite  difficulty 
through  the  cane,  the  enemy  had  hastily  withdrawn 
from  that  side,  had  crossed  the  bridge  in  the  rear,  and 
were  pouring  down  to  their  strong  position  on  the 
right  bank.  Weitzel  divined  their  plans.  "  We  are 
on  the  wrong  track,"  said  he.  "The  fighting  will  be 
on  the  other  side."  He  immediately  ordered  us  back 
to  the  bridge,  to  cross  it  and  support  the  Eighth  New 
Hampshire.  Having  already  re-formed  line  we  filed 
by  a  flank  movement  in  quick  time  into  the  road 


84 

alongside  the  levee,  which  was  here  about  eight  feet 
high  and  was  a  perfect  protection  against  everything 
but  exploding  shells.  These  the  enemy  sent  after  us 
profusely,  though  little  besides  our  colors  could  have 
been  visible  above  the  levee.  Several  wounded  men, 
covered  with  blood,  were  borne  past  us.  The  first 
man  wounded  in  the  Thirteenth  Connecticut !  Prir 
vate  Coffee,  .company  D,  a  large  fragment  of  shell 
mangling  his  back.  Dr.  Clary  put  him  in  a  one-horse 
cart  and  sent  him  to  the  rear.  We  passed  on  rapidly, 
and  soon  forgot  his  sufferings  in  the  excitement  and 
danger. 

To  make  sure  work,  the  rebel  commander,  at  the 
time  he  withdrew  his  right  wing,  had  sent  a  section 
of  battery  and  a  strong  force  of  cavalry  by  a  circuitous 
route  through  the  woods  to  get  in  the  rear  of  the 
Eighth  New  Hampshire  and  cut  off  its  retreat.  His 
arrangements  were  admirable.  Had  there  been  no 
flat-boats,  nothing  could  have  saved  our  right  wing. 
But  while  his  cavalry  was  pressing  ours  slowly  back, 
not  too  slowly,  and  their  flanking  party  was  making 
its  long  circuit  in  a  swampy  road,  the  two  best  regi 
ments  of  Weitzel  were  in  process  of  rapid  transfer 
across  the  bayou.  The  pioneers  cut  the  levee  in  a 
trice.  The  flat-boats  swung  end  to  end.  The  bridge 
was  made.  To  the  astonished  eyes  of  the  rebels,  it 
must  have  appeared  the  work  of  magic.  They 
instantly  opened  a  fierce  cannonade  upon  the  frail 
structure  ;  two  twelve-pound  howitzers  responding. 
Amidst  the  shrieking  of  shells  and  round  shot  which 
splashed  the  water  over  them  but  did  no  harm,  the 
Twelfth  Connecticut,  which  was  already  on  the  spot 
and  fresh,  dashed  over  the  bridge,  and  debouched  into 


85 

the  open  field,  a  distance  of  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile 
at  right  angles  to  the  bayou ;  then  halted,  faced  the 
front  and  advanced. 

The  Seventy-fifth  remained  on  the  left  bank, 
and  now  moved  to  the  rear  to  guard  the  baggage 
trains  and  the  approaches  to  the  bridge. 

For  the  first  time  the  Thirteenth  was  now  fairly 
in  battle.  The  big  solid  shot  were  pounding  upon  us, 
and  the  rifled  shells  were  whistling  demoniacally  over 
our  heads.  We  had  great  confidence  in  General 
Weitzel  and  in  Colonel  Birge,  but  not  yet  in  ourselves. 
Would  our  men  stand  fire  ?  Would  they  resist  a 
cavalry  charge?  for  the  enemy  were  superior  in 
cavalry.  Would  our  men  march  straight  against  a 
bristling  fence  of  bayonets  ?  Would  they  stand  firm 
and  cross  bayonets  to  resist  a  bayonet  charge  ? 
Would  they  see  their  comrades  falling,  and  still  press  on 
in  the  teeth  of  batteries  vomiting  death  ?  Such  ques 
tions  agitated  our  breasts  as  the  enemy's  shot  came, 
ripping  up  the  ground,  smashing  the  trees,  or  scream 
ing  and  exploding  over-head. 

We  neared  the  opening  in  the  levee.  Our  step 
changed  to  the  double-quick.  The  enemy  were  press 
ing  the  Eighth  hard,  which  had  just  formed  square  to 
resist  a  cavalry  charge.  It  seems  they  had  mistaken 
the  horses  of  the  rebel  battery  for  squadrons  of  troop 
ers  !  "File  left!"  commanded  Colonel  Birge,  and 
the  regiment  at  a  double-quick  glided  down  the  bank 
and  upon  the  bridge,  with  muskets  at  a  right-shoulder 
shift.  Our  pace  quickened  almost  to  a  run,  while  the 
cannon  balls  were  flying  over  us  or  ploughing  up  the 
water  under  our  feet.  Up  the  steep  bank  on  the 
other  side,  and  straight  out  among  the  brambles  and 

8* 


86. 

trees!  We  glanced  to  the  left  as  we  passed  them 
and  saw  the  Eighth  retreating  slowly,  crouching, 
broken,  somewhat  disordered,  but  still  fighting,  the 
men  blazing  away  here  and  there  without  orders, 
those  in  the  rear  shooting  over  the  heads  of  those  in 
front  or  between  them  !  It  is  said  they  attempted  to 
form  line  by  inversion;  an  arrangement  which  brings 
the  right  companies  on  the  left,  and  is  very  likely  to 
confuse  the  men  and  entangle  the  companies.  We 
reached  the  middle  of  the  field.  "  Battalion,  halt ! 
front!  On  the  centre,  dress!"  rang  out  the  voice  of 
Colonel  Birge.  A  shell  exploded  over  his  head  at  this 
moment,  ami  a  large  fragment  dropped  under  his 
horse's  feet.  "  A  piece  of  shell  for  you,  boys,"  said 
he  smiling.  They  soon  came  thicker  than  was 
amusing. 

The  three  regiments  were  now  in  echelon  descend 
ing  from  the  right,  at  about  ten  rods  lateral  and  per 
pendicular  distance  between  the  steps  ;  the  Eighth 
resting  on  the  bayou,  the  Thirteenth  in  the  center, 
the  Twelfth  on  the  right.  The  Twelfth  were  already 
in  motion  to  the  front,  when  our  colonel  commanded, 
"  Battalion  !  Forward  !  Guide  Centre  !  March  !" 
Through  the  thick  thorn-bushes  and  among  scattering 
trees,  over  stumps  and  ditches,  we  pressed  forward, 
our  greatest  immediate  anxiety  being  to  keep  a 
straight  line.  Victory  seemed  hardly  worth  gaining, 
unless  the  regiment  presented  an  even  and  regular 
front :  such  was  the  effect  of  habit  in  drilling !  It 
gave  us  real  pain  to  see  the  line  become  wavy ! 
There  was  an  astonishing  and  somewhat  shocking 
quantity  of  swearing  expended,  to  keep  the  ranks 
closed  and  the  companies  even  with  the  colors.  There 


87 

was,  however,  no  lagging,  except  when  an  exhausted, 
sick  or  wounded  man  fell  behind.  The  Twelfth  and 
Thirteenth  were  moving  steady  forward,  the  Eighth 
still  peppering  away  in  our  rear,  the  enemy's  artillery 
for  the  most  part  firing  as  if  we  were  thirty  feet  high, 
when  we  came  to  a  straight  rail-fence,  extending 
parallel  to  our  battalion.  "  Break  it  down  !"  shouted 
Birge,  and  the  front  rank  rushed  against  it  striking  it 
with  their  breasts,  and  laying  it  flat  on  the  ground 
nearly  its  entire  length.  The  writer  of  this  history, 
being  on  the  top  of  the  fence  when  the  front  rank  of 
his  company  struck  it,  was  precipitated  about  twelve 
feet  forward  into  a  ditch,  breaking  his  scabbard  but 
singularly  sparing  his  neck  !  Hastily  re-forming  the 
broken  line  without  hatting,  we  penetrated  a  very  thin 
woodland,  or  rather  bramble-land,  interspersed  with 
trees.  Weitzel  rodem  little  distance  behind  us  and  on 
our  left,  dressed  in  sky-blue  overcoat,  smoking  a  cigar, 
looking  like  a  common  soldier  and  keeping  amusingly 
cool  while  so  many  officers  and  soldiers  were  bowing 
and  dodging  at  every  sound  of  an  iron  projectile.  We 
were  a  little  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the 
rebel  line,  and  had  not  yet  fired  a  bullet,  when  the 
enemy's  infantry  opened  upon  us  with  a  rattle  like 
the  discharge  of  an  endless  string  of  fire-crackers. 
The  invisible  messengers  came  humming  and  singing 
in  our  ears,  and  striking  a  man  here  and  there  with  a 
quick  chuck  !  that  sounded  far  uglier  than  the  rush  of 
the  larger  missiles,  which  can  often  be  seen  and  fre 
quently  give  a  little  warning  before  they  strike. 
Here  we  passed  the  band  of  the  Thirteenth  Connecti 
cut,  and  some  of  the  drum-corps,  not  standing  up  or, 
marching  to  the  front  blowing  and  drumming  as  if 


88 

their  life  depended  upon  it,  as  one  sees  them  repre 
sented  in  pictures  ;  but  lying  flat  on  the  ground  be 
hind  stumps,  and  clinging  fondly  -to  mother  earth. 
We  passed  a  few  rods  further,  halted,  dressed  accu 
rately  on  the  center,  and  stood  a  few  minutes  in  line, 
while  the  hail  flew  over  us.  David  Black,  private  of 
company  F,  dropped  dead,  a  bullet  passing  through 
his  heart :  others  fell  wounded.  A  large  tree  stood 
in  touching  distance  of  the  line.  A  quick  rush  was 
made  by  a  dozen  soldiers  and  two  or  three  officers  to 
get  behind  it.  "  Come  out  from  behind  that  tree,  and 
go  back  to  your  places  in  the  ranks,  or  I'll  blow  your 
brains  out !"  exclaimed  our  colonel,  with  a  succession 
of  oaths  that  sounded  at  the  time  emphatic  rather  than 
profane.  Weitzel  came  close  up.  "  It's  getting 
pretty  warm,"  said  he ;  "  you'd  better  lie  down." 
"  Lie  down  !"  commanded  the  colonel.  This  order 
did  not  need  to  be  repeated ;  nor  did  any  other.  We 
had  passed  through  the  severest  test  of  discipline ; 
that  which  requires  a  soldier  simply  to  stand  straight 
up  and  be  shot  at,  without  flinching  and  without  re 
turning  the  compliment.  It  is  very  easy  to  press  for 
ward  in  a  charge  with  flying  banners  and  the  belief 
that  a  moment  of  heroism  will  be  crowned  with  ever 
lasting  laurels.  It  is  even  not  difficult  to  endure  a 
heavy  fire  at  a  stand-still,  provided  one  can  defiantly 
hurl  back  the  blows.  But  to  stand,  immoveable  at 
shoulder-arms  and  let  the  iron  and  lead  smash  through 
the  ranks,  to  be  a  target  for  a  thousand  muskets  and 
never  deliver  a  shot  in  reply, — this  is  indeed  trying. 

As  Weitzel  sat  on  his  horse  at  our  left  intently 
watching  the  enemy,  he  suddenly  said,  "  Rise  up  !" 
A  moment  after  he  remarked  quietly,  "  Their  cavalry 


89 

Bayonets  were  fixed,  but  there  appear 
ed  not  to  be  time  to  form  square.  We  stood  breath 
lessly  awaiting  the  onset.  "You  may  lie  down. 
They're  not  coming,"  said  the  General ;  "  We  must 
charge  them."  "Rise  up!  Battalion,  Forward-! 
Guide  Center  !  March  !"  Colonel  Birge  again  com 
manded.  The  Twelfth  were  in  motion  the  same 
instant,  and  the  final  grand  charge  began.  The 
enemy's  fire  redoubled  its  fierceness.  From  their 
cover  in  the  edge  of  the  wood,  and  down  in  their  rifle 
pits  behind  the  stout  fence,  they  had  a  full  view  of 
the  four  hundred  men  of  the  Twelfth,  and  the  long 
line  of  six  hundred  bayonets  of  the  Thirteenth,  that 
came  steadily  forward  with  unbroken  ranks ;  while 
we  could  see  very  few  of  our  antagonists,  though  the 
innumerable  puffs  of  white  smoke  and  the  terrible 
roll  of  their  musketry  and  cannon  fully  revealed  their 
position.  With  difficulty,  by  savage  threats,  we  re 
strained  our  men  from  shooting,  while  the  tempest  of 
missiles  was  hissing  past  us,  tearing  through  our 
colors,  our  clothing,  and  our  persons.  Two  captains 
of  the  Eighth  were  shot  dead.  How  we  longed  to 
return  the  fire  !  But  our  leader  seemed  determined 
to  rely  on  the  bayonet  alone.  The  flanking  force 
which  the  enemy  had  sent  round,  migjit  fall  upon  our 
rear  at  any  moment.  Not  a  second  was  to  be  lost  by 
stopping  to  fire  even  a  single  volley.  Forward,  still 
forward  we  pressed,  shoulder  to  shoulder,  and  still 
we  were  the  targets  of  their  two  batteries  and  three 
infantry  regiments.  Our  impatience  to  be  shooting 
grew  extreme,  and  I  think  the  sweetest  sound  that 
smote  upon  our  ears  during  the  war  was  the  sudden 
crash  of  the  four  hundred  rifles  of  the  Twelfth  Con- 


90 

necticut  on  our  right.  Heavens  !  "What  a  volley  ! 
Unable  to  hold  back  longer,  the  Thirteenth  instantly 
answered  with  a  tremendous  roll  of  musketry.  Both 
regiments  poured  in  an  unceasing  fire,  all  the  while 
marching  steadily  forward.  The  fence  beneath  which 
the  first  line  of  rebels  lay,  was  splintered,  riddled, 
honeycombed.  The  excitement  grew  intense.  Will 
they  stand  a  bayonet  charge  ?  See,  the  rebel  line 
wavers !  Their  officers  frantically  brandish  their 
swords  and  in  vain  try  to  hold  their  men !  Many 
are  leaping  out  of  the  rifle  pits  !  Many  more  are 
fluttering  their  white  handkerchiefs  in  token  of  sur 
render  ! 

How  wildly  some  of  our  men  aimed  !  "  What  the 
devil  are  you  shooting  at  up  in  the  sky,?"  exclaimed 
the  pious  Lieutenant  Clark  to  private  George  Hazen, 
Company  H,  whose  musket  ball  must  have  gone  that 
instant  a  quarter  of  a  mile  high  ! 

Both  regiments  now  rushed  up  to  and  over  the 
rebel  position,  carrying  it  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye, 
and  driving  cavalry,  infantry  and  artillery  pell-mell 
through  the  swampy  woods.  Their  cavalry  column 
gained  our  rear  at  this  moment,  but  too  late,  and  only 
discharged  a  few  straggling  shots  at  our  rear  guard 
across  the  Bayou. 

The  commander  of  the  rebel  center,  Colonel  Mc- 
Pheeters,  was  killed  directly  in  front  of  the  colors  of 
the  Thirteenth  Connecticut.  He  was  a  brave  man, 
and  we  could  not  look  upon  his  manly  face  without 
sorrow.  A  bullet  had  passed  through  his  head.  The 
famous  Crescent-City  Regiment  lay  opposite  us,  and 
many  of  its  bravest  men  were  gasping  in  the  agonies  of 


91      . 

death.    We  were  destined  to  meet  that  regiment  again 
face  to  face  at  Irish  Bend  six  months  later. 

The  Thirteenth,  having  crossed  the  rifle-pit,  halted. 
General  Weitzel  addressed  them  a  few  words  express 
ing  the  highest  satisfaction  at  their  conduct.  The 
regiment  answered  with  enthusiastic  cheers. 

Captain  Tisdale  volunteered  to  go  with  his  compa 
ny  into  the  woods  to  pick  up  the  enemy's  stragglers, 
a  work  which  they  performed  well.  Tired  and  faint 
from  the  hard  work  in  the  morning,  we  were  yet  push 
ed  on  several  miles  in  pursuit,  but  were  ordered  back 
near  to  the  battle-ground  the  same  evening. 

In  the  battle  of  Labadieville  or  Georgia  Landing, 
we  captured  one  piece  of  artillery,  a  brass  twelve- 
pounder,  many  arms  and  accoutrements,  and  two 
hundred  and  eight  prisoners.  The  whole  of  the  rich 
La  Fourche  country  immediately  fell  into  our  hands. 
The  retreating  enemy,  however,  were  not  caught  at 
Brashear  City,  as  we  had  hoped  ;  the  vessels  of  the  na 
val  force  having  been  detained  two  or  three  days  off 
the  mouth  of  the  Atchafalaya,  unable  to  cross  the  bar 
in  consequence  of  adverse  northerly  winds,  and  the 
rebel  General,  abandoning  much  of  his  stores,  having 
effected  his  escape  with  those  of  his  men  who  did  not 
improve  the  opportunity  to  desert.  This  was  effected 
the  more  easily,  as  a  very  large  proportion  of  his  men 
were  mounted. 

The  Thirteenth  lost  but  few  men  in  this  conflict: 
one  killed  and  thirteen  wounded.  Private  Thomas 
Keilly,  Company  A,  was  taken  prisoner  while  skirm 
ishing,  and  the  whole  company  narrowly  escaped  cap 
ture,  but  were  extricated  by  the  forethought  and  skill 
of  Captain  Cornwell.  The  Twelfth  Connecticut  lost 


92 

three  killed,  fifteen  wounded,  and  one,  Lieutenant 
Francis,  a  prisoner.  The  whole  loss  of  the  brigade 
was  about  ninety,  of  whom  the  Eighth  New  Hamp 
shire  lost  half.  The  knapsacks  and  their  contents, 
overcoats,  and  the  like,  which  our  men  had  thrown 
off  at  the  commencement  of  the  battle,  were  inextri 
cably  mixed  up  with  those  of  other  companies  and 
regiments,  and  for  the  most  part,  lost  to  the  men. 
This  loss  came  heavily  on  them,  as  the  Government, 
though  importuned,  never  replaced  the  articles. 

This  experience  of  the  Thirteenth  was  invaluable. 
Our  first  battle  was  a  victory  ;  and  it  had  been  gained 
with  just  enough  of  difficulty  and  danger  to  give  the 
soldiers  confidence  and  thirst  for  military  glory. 

Next  day  we  marched  nine  miles  further  along  from 
Labadieville  to  Thibodaux,  the  capital  of  the  La 
Fourche  parish.  It  was  with  inexpressible  pride  that 
we  bore  the  blue  flag  of  Connecticut  and  the  hated  Stars 
and  Stripes  through  the  half-deserted  streets,  keeping 
step  to  the  music  of  our  re-enspirited  and  splendid 
band.  No  welcome  greeted  us  from  the  white  race. 
They  closed  their  doors  and  window-shutters,  or  scowl 
ed  with  eyes  askance  from  verandas  and  balconies. 
The  negroes  from  far  and  near  swarmed  to  us.  "  Every 
soldier  had  a  negro,  and  every  negro  a  mule.  Many 
of  the  blacks  also  brought  with  them  horses,  wagons, 
house-furniture,  provisions,  bundles  of  clothing,  bed 
ding,  with  their  wives  and  infants,  till  the  bayou  was 
thronged  with  them  for  miles.  The  question  became 
exceedingly  perplexing,  "  What  to  do  with  them  ?" 
Many  of  the  able-bodied  men  soon  enlisted  in  Butler's 
three  regiments  of  Native  Guards,  and  more  were 
afterwards  enrolled  in  Banks's  Corps  d' Afrique. 


93 

The  second  day  after  the  battle  the  regiment  march 
ed  to  Raceland,  a  small  hostile  force  being  reported 
there.  On  the  way  a  rebel  wagon,  loaded  with  flour, 
sugar  and  whiskey,  and  driven  by  a  negro  who  was 
making  off  with  it,  came  into  the  hands  of  Lieutenant- 
colonel  Warner,  then  in  command  of  the  regiment  in 
the  absence  of  Colonel  Birge.  The  whiskey  was  issu 
ed  to  the  men  at  noon.  At  Raceland  we  found  some 
military  stores,  and  a  few  cannon  011  the  cars  ready 
to  be  whirled  away  ;  but  no  enemy. 

On  the  thirtieth  we  returned  to  Thibodaux,  and 
went  into  camp  a  mile  below  the  town,  on  the  same 
side  of  the  bayou.  Weitzel  named  the  place  Camp 
Stevens.  The  weather  was  delightful  and  the  town 
pleasant.  Many  of  the  houses  had  been  abandoned 
by  their  owners  at  the  approach  of  our  forces,  and 
some  of  them  were  broken  open  and  shamefully  pill 
aged  before  Weitzel  had  an  opportunity  to  establish 
guards.  These  disorders  and  abuses,  though  insepa 
rable  from  a  hostile  military  occupation,  filled  the  offi 
cers  generally  with  the  deepest  shame.  A  military 
Commission  for  the  trial  of  such  offences  was  conven 
ed  in  the  Court  House  in  Thibodaux,  consisting  of 
Lieutenant-colonel  Merrit,  Major  Peck,  Captains 
Thompson,  Barret,  Sprague,  Mitchell  and  DeForest ; 
but  beyond  the  hanging  of  one  negro  they  accomplish 
ed  little  towards  the  administration  of  justice. 

General  Weitzel  occupied  the  house  of  a  rebel  offi 
cer  on  the  plantation  where  our  camp  was.  Colonel 
Birge  remained  in  his  tent.  Colonel  Warner  and 
Quartermaster  Bromley,  whose  respective  wives  had 
arrived  from  the  North,  occupied  a  house  in  town. 

Three  or  four  miles  above  us  on  the  bayou  was  the 
9 


94 

beautiful  residence  of  the  Reverend  General,  Leonidas 
Polk,  who  had  laid  aside  the  Bishop's  robes  for  the 
sash  and  epauletts,  and  whose  remains  now  rest  in 
St.  Paul's  churchyard  in  Augusta,  Ga.  ;  a  mournful 
illustration  of  the. truth,  "They  that  take  the  sword 
shall  perish  with  the  sword."  Nearly  opposite  Bishop 
Polk's  plantation,  across  the  bayou,  is  the  large  plan 
tation  of  General  Braxton  Bragg.  For  a  week  or 
two  after  our  arrival  at  Camp  Stevens,  we  suffered  for 
want  of  sufficient  food,  and  our  new  chaplain,  Rev. 
Henry  Upson,  conciliated  the  good-will  of  the  soldiers 
by  foraging  extensively  on  these  plantations  for  the 
benefit  of  the  hungry.  There  was  a  vein  of  fun  in 
his  composition,  the  solemnity  of  his  look  and  de 
meanor  adding  greatly  to  its  effect.  One  morning  he 
and  Adjutant  Grosvenor  were  ploughing  up  sweet  po 
tatoes  for  the  half-starved  soldiers ;  Grosvenor  held 
the  plough,  a  negro  drove  the  mule,  and  the  chaplain 
walked  along  side  picking  up  the  vegetables  and  mor 
alizing.  The  course  of  the  plough  was  anything  but 
straight,  and  the  adjutant  finally  becoming  impatient 
at  the  awkwardness  of  the  driver,  ejaculated,  "  Where 

in  h are  you  going  ?"     The  chaplain  discontinued 

his  religious  discussion  for  a  moment,  looked  up 
gravely  through  his  spectacles,  eyed  the  African  and 
the  crooked  furrow,  and  said  slowly,  "  Perhaps,  under 
the  circumstances,  that  is  a  very  proper  question.'' 

Colonel  Warner  and  others  one  day  visited  Mrs. 
Bragg  at  her  house,  and  politely  expressed  the  wish 
that  he  might  at  some  time  meet  her  husband  at  his 
residence.  Mrs.  Bragg  drew  herself  up  to  her  full 
height,  and  with  great  dignity  and  dramatic  effect, 
replied,  "  The  place  for  you  to  meet  General  Bragg, 
sir,  is  on  the  battle-field  !" 


95 

On  the  seventh  of  November,  1862,  a  startling  event 
brought   mourning    into    our    midst.      Lieutenants 
Wheeler  and  Johnson  of  the  Thirteenth,  had  been  left 
behind  sick  at  Camp  Kearney,  with  other  invalids,  on 
the  departure  of  the  regiment.     On  Saturday,  the  day 
referred  to,  they  took  the  cars  for  Thibodaux.     Colo 
nel   Birge   was   drilling   the   Thirteenth   about  four 
o'clock,  P.  M.,  when  a  loud  explosion  was  heard,  ap 
parently  several  miles  off,  and  a  vast  column  of  smoke 
was  seen  to  ascend  in  the  direction  of  the  rail-road 
crossing.     In  an  hour  news  came  of  the  blowing  up  of 
a  car  loaded  with  ammunition,  and  the  instant  death 
of  the  two  officers  and  ten  or  a  dozen  others,  men  and 
women.     Rumor  was  rife  that  General  Butler,  who 
was  expected  to  visit  Thibodaux  at  that  time,  and  who 
actually  came  next  day,  was  supposed  to  be  on  the 
train,  and  hence  the  attempt  to  blow  it  up  with  an 
infernal  machine :  but  the  truth  seemed  otherwise. 
Those  in  the  passenger  cars  heard  the  deafening  ex 
plosion,  saw  the  shells  bursting  in  every  direction,  and 
the   mangled  remains  of  the  victims  scattered  every 
where.     Heads  were  torn  from  bodies,  and  limb  from 
limb ;    the  headless   trunk  of  a  female  being  found 
many  rods  off,  blackened  by  powder.      Many   were 
wounded,  and  their  groans  filled  the  air.    The  car  was 
totally  destroyed,  the  track  torn  up,  and  the  engine 
precipitated  down  the  embankment.     The  dry  grass 
and   cane    were   immediately   kindled  by   exploding 
shells,  and  this  fire  in  turn  exploded  other  shells  that 
lay  scattered  over  the  fields.     Hastening  to  the  spot 
with   other  officers,  the  writer  of  this  history  found 
the   bodies  of   the    recently   promoted    Lieutenants 
Wheeler  and  Johnson,  of  privates  Assant,  Company 
P,  and  Richmond,  Company  I,  among  the  rest.     The 


96 

disaster  occurred  some  thirty  rods  from  the  bayou. 
The  surgeons  were  busy  with  their  amputations,  and 
the  whole  scene  was  horrible  as  a  battle-field.  Cham 
pion,  our  sutler,  lay  with  both  legs  broken  among  the 
other  sufferers.  The  corpses  of  the  officers  were  taken 
next  day  to  New  Orleans,  where  they  were  embalmed, 
and  shortly  afterwards  were  sent  to  their  friends  in 
the  North. 

Wednesday,  November  26,  at  eleven  and  a  half 
o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  "  long  roll"  was  beaten,  the  pickets 
having  suddenly  commenced  firing.  The  brigade  in 
stantly  turned  out  under  arms.  The  Thirteenth  was 
one  of  the  first  regiments  in  line.  By  command  of 
Weitzel  we  were  ployed  into  column,  deployed,  and 
made  to  execute  various  manoeuvers  with  the  greatest 
celerity.  After  a  half-hour's  evolutions,  Colonel  N.  A. 
M.  Dudley,  Inspector  General,  Department  of  the 
Gulf,  (familiarly  known  at  that  time  as  "  The  great 
North  American  Dudley"),  for  whose  gratification 
Weitzel  had  ordered  the  alarm  to  be  made,  came  in 
front  of  the  Thirteenth  Connecticut,  as  we  stood  shiv 
ering  in  the  intense  cold,  and  there  delivered  a  spirit 
ed  speech  complimentary  to  us  and  to  the  gallant  Weit 
zel,  under  whom  he  said  he  "  should  be  proud  to  be  a 
brigadier  general !"  He  had  been  cordially  treated 
on  his  visit  to  Thibodaux,  and  appeared  to  be  in  a 
very  happy  frame  of  mind. 

On  the  last  Thursday  in  November,  1862,  the  anni 
versary  of  our  Connecticut  Thanksgiving,  we  had  a 
grand  celebration.  The  day  was  set  apart  to  hilarity 
and  enjoyment.  There  were  horse-races,  mule-races, 
and  foot-races,  games  of  ball,  and  numberless  other 
amusing  exercises.  Colonel  Birge  temporarily  abdi- 


97 

cated  his  position,  and  allowed  the  regiment  to  choose 
a  colonel  for  the  holiday.  They  accordingly  selected 
Sergeant  Ezra  M.  Hull,  company  D,  who  immediately 
arrayed  himself  in  the  garb  of  an  Indian  chief,  and 
issued  a  series  of  amusing  orders,  one  of  which  was, 
that  whosoever  should  do  anything  right  during  the 
day  should  be  put  in  the  guard-house  !  He  appointed 
a  suitable  officer-of-the-day,  who  arrested  all  that  were 
orderly  and  punished  all  that  committed  no  offence. 
A  great  dinner  was  eaten.  The  whole  of  the  festi 
vities  concluded  with  a  sham  dress-parade,  in  which 
the  line  officers  in  disguise  personated  the  band  of 
music,  and  the  whole  regiment,  attired  in  a  style  that 
would  have  broken  even  Falstaff 's  heart,  obeyed  the 
standing  order  to  do  nothing  right.  Such  a  Thanks 
giving  was  never  celebrated  elsewhere. 

On  the  tenth  of  December  were  held  a  review  and 
inspection  of  the  regiment,  on  half  an  hour's  notice, 
by  Colonel  Dudley,  who  showed  himself  an  energetic 
and  able  inspector.  Like  every  other  that  examined 
us  at  any  time,  he  bestowed  special  praise  upon  the 
perfection  of  our  muskets  and  accoutrements. 
"  Never,"  said  he,  "  have  I  seen  better  belts  and 
boxes  in  the  volunteer  service  ;  nor  better  muskets 
among  either  volunteers  or  regulars." 

December  17th,  news  came  of  the  arrival  of  Gen 
eral  Banks  at  New  Orleans  the  preceding  day,  with 
orders  to  relieve  General  Butler.  The  same  day  a 
portion  of  Banks'  force  arrived  at  Baton  Rouge. 

December  27th,  we  received  orders  to  proceed  to 

Baton   Rouge   by   way   of  Donaldsonville.     Monday 

morning,  December  29th,   we   left   Thibodaux    and 

marched  through  rain  and  deep  mud  twenty  miles  on 

9* 


98 

the  loft  bank  of  the  bayou  towards  Donaldsonville. 
The  roads  were  in  a  most  wretched  condition.  The 
soldiers,  being  almost  wholly  unused  to  marching  and 
far  too  heavily  laden  with  knapsacks,  found  the  labor 
fatiguing  to  the  last  degree.  Like  Stonewall  Jackson, 
Colonel  Birge  marched  his  men  faster  and  farther 
than  was  agreeable  to  themselves  or  the  enemy. 
Hardly  a  foot,  the  sole  of  which  was  not  one  huge 
blister.  Many  sunk  down  exhausted.  A  year  later, 
they  would  have  thrown  away  their  knapsacks  at  the 
end  of  the  first  half  hour.  A  little  after  dark  we 
marched  eighty  rods  from  the  levee  road  to  a  sugar 
mill,  where  we  lay  on  the  ground  until  morning.  At 
midnight  companies  E  and  H  were  alarmed  at  a  herd 
of  goats  trampling  over  them  in  the  darkness,  which 
some  dreaming  soldiers  mistook  for  a  charge  of  rebel 
cavalry ! 

Next  day  we  marched  more  leisurely  to  Donaldson 
ville.  The  captain  of  company  B  crossed  to  the  other 
side  of  the  La  Fourche  and  preceded  us  in  a  buggy,, 
without  permission  from  Colonel  Birge.  The  latter, 
arriving  himself  in  advance  of  the  troops,  was  indig 
nant  to  find  the  captain  already  at  Colonel  Holcomb's 
head-quarters  indulging  in  social  refreshment. 

The  same  day  we  embarked  for  Baton  Rouge,  which 
is  some  sixty  miles  further  up  the  river.  We  reached 
our  destination  next  morning,  December  31.  There 
we  went  into  camp  near  a  cemetery  on  the  battle 
ground  where  Breckenridge  had  been  repulsed  in  his 
assault  the  fifth  of  the  preceding  August.  By  what 
mysterious  influence  is  it  that  cemeteries  are  fated  ta 
become  battle-fields,  as  many  a  one  from  Baton  Rouge 
to  Gettysburg!!  testifies  ?  This  had  its  fences  perfo- 


rated  like  a  sieve,  its  trees  cut  off,  and  its  tombs  torn 
open  by  cannon  shot.  In  one  case  the  body  of  an  in 
fant  was  still  exposed  to  view  in  a  half  demolished 
tomb.  The  demon  of  war  !  From  the  day  when  the 
Roman  Conqueror  strode  into  the  Jewish  Holy  of 
Holies,  no  place  has  been  sacred  or  secure.  Our  camp 
ground  itself  was  evidently  a  place  of  burial  after  the 
battle.  Digging  a  few  inches  under  his  tent,  the 
writer  struck  the  shoes  on  a  soldier's  corpse  !  But 
whose  ? 

We  remained  in  that  field  one  night.  Next  morn 
ing  we  moved  to  the  old  United  States  Arsenal 
grounds,  and  pitched  tents  alongside  the  barracks. 
We  had  hardly  established  ourselves  here  when  we 
were  moved  next  day  to  still  another  portion  of  the 
same  grounds,  just  inside  the  strong  breastworks  that 
were  still  in  process  of  erection.  We  immediately 
resumed  battalion  and  company  drills.  The  captains 
successively  drilled  the  regiment  in  presence  of  Col. 
Birge  or  Lieutenant-colonel  Warner,  and  under  their 
supervision. 

January  9,  Colonel  Birge  ordered  a  board  of  officers, 
consisting  of  Captains  Sprague  and  Cornwell  and 
Lieutenant  Baker,  to  examine  the  sergeants  with  a 
view  to  their  promotion  to  be  commissioned  officers. 

January  26,  the  regiment  moved  into  camp  a  mile 
from  town  near  the  Port  Hudson  road.  About  this 
time  Colonel  Birge  assumed  command  of  the  Third 
Brigade,  Fourth  (Grover's)  Division.  His  brigade 
comprised  the  Thirteenth  Connecticut,  One  Hundred 
and  Fifty-ninth  New  York,  Twenty-fifth  Conn,  and 
Twenty-sixth  Maine.  Brigade  drills  immediately  fol 
lowed.  Colonel  Warner  and  Quartermaster  Bromley, 
with  their  families,  occupied  a  house  in  town.  Colonel 


100 

Birge's  headquarters  and  the  camps  of  the  whole 
brigade  were  on  the  upper  or  north  side  of  the  town, 
near  the  creek  that  flows  past  the  Arsenal  grounds. 

On  the  twenty-seventh  of  January,  Lieutenant 
Jonah  F.  Clark,  company  H,  died  of  fever  in  hospital 
at  Baton  Rouge  after  two  weeks  sickness.  On  the 
twenty-ninth  his  funeral  was  attended  by  many  of  the 
officers  and  soldiers,  and  the  body  was  interred  with 
military  honors.  The  sudden  bereavement  was  de 
plored  by  all  his  brother  officers,  and  his  memory  was 
sacredly  cherished  by  his  company,  who  knew  his  gal 
lantry,  his  patriotism,  and  his  integrity. 

Difficulties  and  disputes  having  arisen  in  February 
relative  to  the  support  of  the -Thirteenth's  fine  band, 
and  the  amount  appropriated  by  the  quartermaster 
from  the  savings  of  rations  and  from  the  savings  at 
the  regimental  bakery  in  New  Orleans  for  the  pay 
ment  of  the  musicians,  several  excited  meetings  were 
held,  and  a  committee  of  officers  was  appointed  to 
investigate  and  report.  Captain  Cornwell  at  one  of 
these  meetings  made  in  behalf  of  the  committee  a 
very  lucid  exposition  of  the  result  of  his  examina 
tions  ;  and  the  result  of  the  whole  was  that  the  officers 
found  it  necessary  to  make  liberal  contributions  and 
subscriptions  to  pay  off  the  indebtedness.  The  en 
listed  men  also  contributed  nobly  to  that  object.  The 
burden  was  heavy,  but  the  music  was  sweet. 

Bromley  having  been  appointed  acting  brigade- 
quartermaster,  Captain  Cornwell  was  detailed  as 
acting  regimental  quartermaster.  This  office  he 
filled  satisfactorily  for  many  months,  the  command  of 
company  A  meanwhile  devolving  on  Lieutenant 
Tibbets,  than  whom  a  more  faithful  officer  could  not 
be  found. 


101 

Great  interest  was  felt  by  the  Connecticut  soldiers 
at  Baton  Rouge  in  the  approaching  gubernatorial 
election.  At  a  meeting  called  for  the  purpose  of  con 
sidering  the  subject,  they  appointed  Colonel  Bissell, 
Twenty-fifth  Connecticut,  and  Captain  Sprague,  Thir 
teenth  Connecticut,  a  committee  to  prepare  an  address 
expressive  of  their  views.  The  latter  accordingly, 
while  on  picket  duty  on  the  seventh  of  March,  wrote 
an  Appeal  to*the  People  of  Connecticut.  This  docu 
ment,  after  its  adoption  by  the  meeting,  was  exten 
sively  signed  by  the  soldiers,  then  under  marching 
orders.  It  was  published  with  a  portion  of  the  signa 
tures  in  the  Connecticut  papers  shortly  afterwards, 
and  is  said  to  have  had  some  influence  in  the  election 
of  Gov.  Buckingham. 

For  a  week  we  were  under  marching  orders.  Two 
grand  reviews  had  been  held  ;  one  by  General  Augur, 
one  by  General  Banks.  It  was  known  that  we  were 
to  inarch  against  Port  Hudson.  Indeed  that  intention 
was  openly  avowed.  On  the  ninth  of  March  we  struck 
tents.  Farewell  to  comfort  thenceforward.  Until 
the  following  August,  with  the  exception  of  three  days 
at  Bayou  Boeuf  in  April,  we  slept  no  more  under 
tents  or  roofs  of  any  kind.  For  five  months'  we  were 
without  bed  or  shelter.  Louisiana  mud,  snakes,  mus- 
quitos,  lice — they  soon  ceased  to  have  any  terrors 
for  us.  We  acquired  what  Carlyle  would  term, 
"  Toughness  plus  Astucity" 

A  great  struggle  of  some  kind  was  evidently  im 
pending.  Grover's  and  Augur's  divisions  had  long 
been  concentrating.  The  fleet  of  mortar  schooners, 
gunboats,  sloops-of-war,  and  iron-clads,  was  assembling 
above  Baton  Rouge.  Banks  was  there  and  Farragut 


102 

was  there.  Banks'  record  showed  that  lie  was  at  least 
brave,  and  no  one  supposed  that  Farragut  ever  knew 
fear.  It  is  related  of  the  Admiral  that,  at  a  dinner  in 
New  Orleans  given  by  General  Banks  to  the  officers  of 
the  army  and  navy,  amidst  a  number  of  speeches  and 
toasts  the  brave  old  hero  was  called  upon  to  respond. 
He  made  a  speech,  in  which  he  strongly  urged  an 
immediate  attack  upon  Port  Hudson  #nd  the  great 
duty  of  self-sacrifice.  "  Very  likely,"* said  he,  "  it 
would  be  very  destructive  of  life.  Many  a  brave  man 
will  fall.  You,  General  Banks,  may  fall.  I  may  fall. 
Every  officer  here  may  perish.  But  there  will  be 
others  to  continue  the  battle.  There  will  always  be  a 
last  man,  and  he  will  carry  the  flag  on  to  victory  and 
glory,  and  will  save  the  country  !  Gentlemen,  HERE'S 

TO  THE  HEALTH  OP  THAT  LAST  MAN  !" 

On  the  thirteenth  of  March  the  regiment  left  in  the 
afternoon  with  streaming  colors  and  the  music  of  our 
unequaled  band,  and  joined  the  grand  column  mov 
ing  on  Port  Hudson.  We  marched  eight  or  nine 
miles  and  then  bivouaced.  Next  day  we  advanced 
slowly  about  the  same  distance,  preceded  by  skirm 
ishers,  cavalry  and  infantry,  till  we  nearly  reached 
the  outer  works  of  the  fortress.  Colonel  Clark  of 
General  Banks'  staff,  while  reconnoitering,  was  seri 
ously  wounded.  The  enemy  were  reported  eighteen 
thousand  strong.  Our  regiments  moved  to  the  places 
assigned  them,  and  the  stronghold  seemed  to  be  in 
vested.  Companies  E  and  H  of  the  Thirteenth  were 
stationed  in  an  open  field  separately  from  the  remain 
der  of  the  regiment,  which  was  in  a  wood  ;  and  these 
two  companies  were  favored  with  a  view  of  the  bom 
bardment. 


103 

The  river  at  Port  Hudson  is  very  swift  and  narrow, 
shallow  on  the  opposite  side,  but  very  deep  where  the 
channel  curves  a  mile  or  more  round  the  foot  of  the 
perpendicular  bluff,  seventy  feet  high,  on  which  the 
village  and  fortifications  stand.  Eighteen  or  twenty 
hugs  columbiads  and  innumerable  smaller  pieces  of 
artillery  frowned  from  the  continuous  line  of  works, 
and  were  able  to  throw  plunging  shot  right  down 
upon  our  decks. 

At  eleven  o'clock,  the  night  of  March  fourteenth, 
the  steamships  attempted  to  run  up  past  the  batteries, 
and  the  bombardment  commenced  all  around  the 
works.  It  was  a  spectacle  the  like  of  which  is  not 
often  seen.  The  night  was  intensely  dark.  Some 
times  half-a-dozen  shells  from  the  thirteen-inch  mor 
tars  would  be  visible  in  the  air  at  once;  each,  like  a 
spark  of  fire,  at  first  swiftly  rising  and  gradually 
slower,  creeping  on  its  vast  semi-circumference  up  the 
sky  ;  hesitating  a  moment  at  the  zenith ;  then  slowly 
descending,  but  with  ever-increasing  speed,  till  it 
plunged  into  darkness,  or,  with  a  lightning  flash, 
burst  in  a  tremendous  roar.  The  smaller  shells  inces 
santly  darted  athwart  the  firmament  like  shooting 
stars.  All  the  river  front,  for  more  than  a  mile,  was 
ablaze  with  the  fire  of  artillery  from  the  land  and 
from  the  ships,  while  the  countless  explosions  kept  up 
a  continuous  roll  like  heaviest  thunder.  Near  one 
o'clock  our  attention  was  attracted  to  a  bright  light 
in  the  midst  of  the  hottest  battle.  For  a  while  it 
seemed  stationary,  but  increased  in  vividness,  and 
then  seemed  to  be  moving  down  the  river.  We  were 
stationed  two  or  three  miles  back,  and  intervening 
woods  concealed  the  blazing  mass  itself.  The 


104 

fierce  cannonade  seemed  fiercer  than  ever  around  it. 
What  could  it  be  ?  In  our  suspense  and  anxiety,  the 
imagination  conjured  up  the  image  of  rebel  iron-clads 
engaging  our  wooden  fleet,  setting  one  of  them  on 
fire  and  driving  them  helpless  down  the  river,  our 
heroic  Admiral  fighting  to  the  last.  For  two  hours 
this  strange  exhibition  continued  ;  the  blazing  object, 
whatever  it  might  be,  slowly  drifting  far  down  the 
current ;  the  sound  of  its  cannonade  growing  less 
frequent.  On  a  sudden,  the  whole  heavens  were  lit 
from  horizon  to  horizon  with  a  fiery  splendor.  The 
stars  sank  in  an  ocean  of  flame.  For  ten  seconds  the 
lurid  glare  filled  the  sky  ;  then  came  a  moment  of 
dense  blackness;  and  then,  a  crash  so  loud  and  deep 
that  the  earth  shook  for  a  hundred  miles,  and  it 
seemed  as  if  all  the  thunder  of  the  past  five  hours  had 
been  concentrated  in  one  terrific  peal.  The  vessel 
had  run  aground,  had  been  defended  with  frantic 
courage,  had  been  set  on  fire  and  abandoned,  had 
floated  with  the  stream,  its  guns  going  off  and  its 
shells  exploding  as  the  flames  successively  reached 
them  ;  until  the  conflagration  touched  the  magazine, 
and  in  a  blaze  of  glory  the  grand  old  steam  frigate 
Mississippi  vanished  forever ! 

An  orderly  soon  rode  up  and  communicated  the 
brief  instructions  :  "  The  object  of  the  expedition  hav 
ing  been  accomplished,  the  troops  will  immediately 
set  out  for  Baton  Rouge."  Much  wondering  at  this 
Delphic  announcement,  not  yet  knowing  that  Farra- 
gut  had  successfully  passed  the  batteries  with  the  flag 
ship  Hartford  and  the  Albatross,  we  marched  at  day 
break.  A  heavy  rain  commenced  falling,  and  the 
roads  were  soon  flooded.  We  waded  on  mile  after 


105 

mile  in  the  semi-fluid  mud,  our  shoes  and  boots  being 
filled  by  the  torrents  of  water  that  seemed  to  leap 
from  the  open  windows  of  heaven.  All  day  and  for 
an  hour  after  nightfall  we  toiled  slowly  on,  till  we 
reached  a  point  about  eight  miles  above  Baton  Rouge, 
when  we  were  marched  by  the  flank  out  of  the  road 
and  into  a  pond  of  water,  and  told  to  pass  the  night 
there  !  It  was  an  old  canefield.  The  water  was  from 
an  inch  to  a  foot  in  depth,  with  occasional  mud 
islands,  stumps,  logs,  and  clusters  of  bushes.  Egypt 
ian  darkness  was  upon  us,  and  the  rain  was  yet  falling. 
Such  nights  are  more  destructive  than  battles.  How 
we  envied  the  horses  of  the  general  and  his  staff,  in 
their  warm,  dry  stables  on  the  other  side  of  the  road ! 
The  Twenty-fifth  Connecticut  were  close  beside 
us.  They  alone,  of  all  the  regiments,  managed  to  get  a 
little  coffee,  a  part  of  which  they  generously  distri 
buted  to  other  sufferers,  though  some  of  their  men 
drove  some  of  the  Thirteenth  from  their  fires.  A  few 
of  our  soldiers,  going  about  forty  rods  and  groping  in 
the  darkness,  contrived  to  get  a  poor  supply  of  wood, 
and  after  a  time  we  had  two  fires  blazing ;  but  there 
was  not  room  to  sleep  around  them.  Colonel  War 
ner,  with  the  surgeon  and  chaplain  and  several 
other  officers,  gathered  around  one  burning  stump, 
and,  after  a  brief  discussion,  decided  that  Bromley's 
proposition  was  a  wise  one :  "  The  only  way  to  keep 
the  water  out  is  to  keep  the  whiskey  in."  The  chap 
lain  hailed  every  passer  by,  with,  "  Halt!  Who  goes 
there  ?  Advance,  friend,  and  give  the  Countersign!" 
and  then  imparted  spirituous  comfort.  Doctor  C., 
usually  so  abstemious,  distinguished  himself  on  this 
occasion  equally  by  his  wit,  his  sound  strategic  views, 
10 


106 

and  his  medical  skill.  His  advice,  loudly  proclaimed, 
and  enforced  by  his  own  example,  was :  "  If  you  cant 
take  Port  Hudson  take  Baton  Rouge  ;  and  if  you  cant 
take  Baton  Rouge,  take  whiskey  !" 

Many  were  the  uncomfortable  nights  we  passed,  but 
none  worse  than  this.  We  named  the  spot,  "  Camp 
Misery,"  and  by  that  appellation  we  shall  always  re 
member  it.  The  generals  called  it  "  Camp  Alden," 
but  they  did  not  sleep  in  the  mud  and  rain. 

Next  day  we  moved  three-quarters  of  a  .mile  to  the 
Mississippi  bank,  and  bivouaced  there.  We  remained 
till  March  twentieth,  when  we  returned  to  our  old 
camp  ground  at  Baton  Rouge.  On  the  twenty-second, 
orders  came  to  hold  ourselves  in  readiness  to  move  at 
fifteen  minutes'  notice. 

On  the  twenty-fourth  of  March  the  position  of  Lieu 
tenant-colonel  in  the  Fifth  Regiment  Engineers, 
colored,  was  offered  to  Captain  Sprague.  The  com 
mission  was  sent  him  some  days  afterwards,  but  found 
a  lodgment  in  some  "  pigeon  hole  "  at  intermediate  ' 
head-quarters  and  never  reached  its  destination. 

The  morning  of  March  28,  1863,  we  were  notified 
that  we  should  start  for  Donaldsonville  that  noon. 
We  actually  left  at  dark  that  evening,  in  the  midst  of 
a  thunder  storm.  Thoroughly  drenched,  we  em 
barked  on  the  steamer  Empire  Parish.  Several  com 
panies  slept  on  the  hurricane  deck  in  the  rain.  Be 
fore  light  the  next  morning  (Sunday)  we  reached 
Donaldsonville  and  disembarked,  cold,  wet  and  ex 
hausted.  Orders  were  issued  that  the  soldiers  should 
take  no  wood  from  fences  and  should  cut  no  trees. 
The  most  stringent  orders  against  straggling  and 
marauding  were  issued,  authorizing  the  killing  of  an 


107 

offender  found  pillaging.  It  was  currently  related 
that  some  three  weeks  later  General  D  wight  ordered 
the  summary  shooting,  without  even  a  drum-head 
court-martial,  of  a  soldier  whom  he- found  with  a  sto 
len  pair  of  citizen's  pantaloons. 

Tuesday,  March  31,  we  moved  at  early  morning 
along  the  right  bank  of  the  LaFourche  twelve  miles. 
Next  day  we  advanced  about  the  same  distance,  and 
bivouaced  just  below  our  old  battle-ground  of  Georgia 
Landing.  The  rules  against  pillaging  were  rigidly 
enforced.  Not  a  fence  rail  could  be  taken  to  make 
fire  or  bed  for  officer  or  soldier.  It  being  the  first 
day  of  April,  Lieutenants  Bradley,  Kinney  and  Tib- 
bets  were  put  under  arrest  by  the  Provost  Marshal,  by 
General  Grover's  order,  for  crossing  the  bayou  to 
purchase  eggs ! 

Thursday,  April  2,  we  inarched  through  Thibo- 
daux  to  the  Terrebonne  railroad  station,  where  we 
took  the  cars.  The  same  evening  at  half-past  ten  we 
arrived  at  Bayou  Boeuf,  where  we  remained  just  a 
week. 

Sunday  evening,  April  5,  an  order  was  issued  by 
General  Grover,  requiring  all  negroes  who  had  joined 
the  expedition  since  it  left  Baton  Rouge,  to  be  turned 
over  to  the  Provost  Marshal ;  an  order  which  many 
supposed  to  be  tantamount  to  delivering  up  the  fugi 
tives  to  their  masters.  Chaplain  Upson  that  evening 
preached  a  sermon,  in  which  he  took  occasion  to  say 
he  should  disobey  the  order. 

Next  day,  General  Order  No.  68,  Head-Quarters, 
Grover's  Division,  was  issued,  which  restricted  officers' 
baggage  on  the  intended  expedition  to  "  a  small 
valise  or  carpet  bag,  a  small  roll  of  blankets,  and 


108 

what  messing  utensils  are  absolutely  necessary." 
We  were  ordered  to  store  all  other  baggage  in  a  large 
sugar-mill  a  few  rods  from  camp.  Accordingly  we 
left  trunks,  our  test  clothing,  records,  papers,  and 
every  article  we  could  possibly  dispense  with  on  a 
march.  Few  of  us  ever  saw  any  of  these  things 
again,  as  the  sugar-house  was  burned  to  the  ground 
with  all  its  contents  the  following  June  upon  the 
capture  of  the  place  by  the  enemy. 

At  half-past  two  o'clock,  A.  M.,  Thursday,  April  9, 
we  were  awakened,  ordered  to  have  reveille  at  four 
o'clock,  cook  a  day's  rations,  strike  tents,  and  be  ready 
to  march  at  eight  o'clock.  A.  M.  At  the  appointed 
time  we  marched  out  promptly,  and  at  three  o'clock, 
p.  M.,  we  reached  Brashear  City.  We  went  into  a 
field  adjoining  the  camp-ground  vacated  the  same  day 
by  the  Twelfth  Connecticut,  whose  tents  were  still 
standing.  Here  our  soldiers  stored  knapsacks  and 
every  superfluous  article,  and  we  held  ourselves  in 
readiness  to  march  at  any  moment. 

Saturday  night,  April  11,  we  embarked  on  the 
steamboat  Laurel  Hill.  Sunday  morning,  Grover's 
division,  on  board  the  seven  steamers  Laurel  Hill,  St. 
Mary's,  EstreUa,  Quinnebaug-,  Clifton,  Arizona,  and 
Calhoun,  all  crowded  with  troops,  moved  slowly  up 
the  Atchafalaya  river,  which  widens  into  Lake 
Paludre,  Lake  Chestimache  and  Grand  Lake. 

Simultaneously  with  the  departure  of  Grover's 
division,  that  of  Weitzel  moved  towards  the  rebel 
works  just  below  Franklin  on  the  Bayou  Teche,  where 
the  enemy  lay  in  heavy  force  and  strongly  fortified. 
The  region  is  perhaps  the  richest  sugar-producing 
country  in  the  United  States,  and  as  beautiful  as  a 


109 

• 

level  country  can  be.  On  this  charming  bayou  the 
rebels  had  at  this  time  the  excellent  gunboat  Diana, 
which,  after  a  gallant  fight  two  weeks  before,  had  been 
captured  from  us  with  company  A,  Twelfth  Connecti 
cut,  on  board.  The  plan  of  General  Banks,  who  was 
present  in  person  at  Brashear  City,  was  to  land 
Grover's  division  on  the  shore  of  Grand  Lake  at  a 
point  where  one  of  the  bends  of  the  Teche  approaches 
the  lake  within  one  or  two  miles,  and  hold  the  bayou 
and  the  narrow  strip  of  land  on  each  side  and  so  cut 
off  the  enemy's  retreat  if  Weitzel  drove  them  ;  or 
march  down  on  Franklin  and  co-operate  with  Weitzel 
in  the  investment,  if  they  made  an  obstinate  stand. 
Having  captured  this  force  the  road  would  be  clear 
for  an  immediate  march  to  the  siege  of  Port  Hudson. 

The  morning  of  April  13,  the  anniversary  of  our 
landing  at  Ship  Island,  we  disembarked  at  a  place 
called  Sand  Beach,  near  Irish  Bend.  The  enemy  with 
several  pieces  of  artillery  and  with  some  small  arms 
threw  shell,  solid  shot,  grape  and  lead  among  us  while 
we  were  effecting  our  landing.  The  First  Louisiana 
led  the  way.  The  Thirteenth  Connecticut  came  next. 
We  landed  by  companies,  in  flat  boats,  and  formed 
line  of  battle  on  the  beach.  Pressing  forward  against 
the  enemy,  preceded  a  short  distance  by  the  First 
Louisiana,  we  drove  the  enemy  before  us  into  the 
woods  a  hundred  rods  distant  from  the  shore.  The 
First  Louisiana  had  its  Lieutenant  Colonel  (Fisk)  and 
five  men  wounded.  This  affair  is  sometimes  spoken 
of  as  the  battle  of  Sand  Beach. 

In  perfect  silence  we  passed  a  mile  through  the  dense 
woods  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  .who  retreated  to 
Madam  Porter's  plantation.  Emerging  from  the 
10* 


110 
* 

woods,  we  saw  a  few  of  their  cavalry  a  mile  distant, 
their  mounted  officers  riding  rapidly  to  and  fro,  or 
watching  us  with  glasses,  among  a  few  scattered  plan 
tation  houses.  While  the  other  regiments  and  batte 
ries  were  coming  up,  we  improved  the  opportunity  to 
take  a  lunch.  .Late  in  the  afternoon  we  moved  to 
wards  them  in  force,  they  receding  as  we"  advanced. 
Crossing  the  bayou  bridge,  which  the  rebels  attempt 
ed  to  burn,  near  the  beautiful  mansion  of  Madam 
Porter,  proprietress  of  one  of  the  richest  plantations 
in  the  South,  the  soldiers  helped  themselves  liberally 
to  suga'r  from  the  large  mill  that  stood  by  the  road 
side  next  the  bridge.  We  marched  a  short  distance 
further  and  then  bivouaced,our  regiment  being  thrown 
out  as  an  advance  guard.  At  intervals  during  the 
day  we  had  heard  Weitzel  thundering  at  the  gates  of 
Franklin.  We  supped  on  hard-tack  and  sugar,  sent 
Company  A  out  to  the  picket  line,  and  forty  men  of 
Company  H  under  Lieutenant  Doming  to  hold  one  of 
the  bridges  near  us,  and  then  lay  down  in  a  lane  be 
tween  two  fences. 

Showers  occurred  at  intervals  during  the  night,  and 
the  regiment  got  very  little  sleep  on  the  wet  ground. 
It  appears  that  the  enemy,  on  learning  of  the  appear 
ance  of  our  fleet  in  the  lake  near  Irish  Bend,  deter 
mined  not  to  be  caught  between  the  two  fires,  and 
commenced  moving  stores,  trains,  and  troops  up  the 
Teche  roads.  During  this  night  they  noiselessly  evac 
uated  their  forts  below  Franklin,  completely  giving 
Weitzel  the  slip.  Grover  of  course  ought  to  have 
ocen  in  position  to  intercept  them,  but  was  a  little  too 
late.  It  was  currently  reported  that  the  landing  near 
Irish  Bend  was  a  mistake ;  that  the  understood  plan 


Ill 

was  for  Grover  to  land  some  miles  further  up,  near 
Indian  Bend,  where  the  belt  of  ground  practicable  for 
military  operations  is  narrower,  and  where  he  could 
have  seized  and  held  the  only  available  route  of  re 
treat  before  the  enemy  could  have  arrived.  All  night, 
it  is  said,  they  were  passing.  If  this  was  so,  their  ob 
ject  in  fighting  us  the  next  day  was  only  designed  to 
check  our  pursuit,  or  overwhelm  a  detached  portion 
of  our  force  by  superior  tactics.  But  conjectures  are 
useless.  It  was  ours  to  fight  battles ;  not  to  plan 
them. 

Tuesday,  April  14,  1863,  the  regiment  fell  into 
line  at  day-break.  Some  five  hundred  rods  distant 
was  a  forest  fringed  with  low  cane  on  the  right  as  we 
faced  it.  In  this  wood  the  enemy  were  posted,  cover 
ing  the  Franklin  road,  to  secure  their  line  of  retreat. 
General  Grover  remarked  that  he  thought  there 
was  nothing  more  than  a  picket  there.  Mounting 
the  fences  we  watched  the  woods  for  some  time, 
while  the  Twenty-fifth  Connecticut  were  deploying 
and  advancing  as  skirmishers  to  the  edge  of  the 
wood.  We  were  fully  exposed  to  the  view  of  the 
rebels,  but  could  see  hardly  any  thing  of  them.  The 
right  wing  of  the  Twenty-fifth  first  deployed  under 
the  immediate  charge  of  their  gallant  commander, 
Colonel  Bissell,  and  as  these  feelers  neared  the  edge 
of  the  cane,  we  watched  them  with  intense  interest. 
Suddenly  a  sputtering  fire  opened  upon  them  from 
the  woods  in  front,  which  they  warmly  returned,  and 
they  were  greeted  with  discharges  from  a  battery 
posted  a  considerable  distance  to  the  left  in  the  woods. 
The  other  companies  of  the  Twenty-fifth  now  deploy 
ed  and  advanced  to  the  support  of  the  skirmish  line, 


112 

which  had  become  warmly  engaged  along  two-thirds 
of  the  whole  front  of  the  forest.  An  unexpected 
force  of  the  enemy  having  been  thus  developed,  Gen 
eral  Grover  ordered  up  the  rest  of  Birge's  brigade. 
Rogers'  battery  was  also  brought  up  to  reply  to  the 
rebel  artillery  and  to  the  gunboat  Diana,  whose  guns 
now  swept  the  field.  She  had  come  up  the  Teche 
that  morning.  Birge's  brigade  moved  gaily  to  the 
battle-ground  under  the  eyes  of  the  whole  division. 
The  scene  is  described  as  having  been  exceedingly 
beautiful ;  the  thundering  of  the  artillery  and  the 
scattering  musketry  giving  little  indication  as  yet  of 
the  fierceness  of  the  approaching  storm.  The  regi 
ments  were  all  large,  the  Thirteenth  having  five  hun 
dred  men  in  line. 

The  wood  in  which  the  enemy  were  posted  extended 
with  irregular  front  about  half  a  mile.  Two  thirds 
of  the  distance  from  the  right  of  the  edge,  as  we  stood 
facing  it,  a  plantation  road  leads  perpendicularly 
into  the  forest.  The  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-ninth 
New  York  and  the  Twenty-sixth  Maine  moved  in  line 
of  battle  towards  the  front,  while  the  Thirteenth  Con 
necticut,  having  a  much  farther  distance  to  traverse 
before  advancing  directly  forward,  moved  by  the  flank 
to  the  left.  Crossing  the  plantation  road,  the  regi 
ment  came  "  on  the  right  by  file  into  line  ;"  Company 
B  having  first  been  detached  under  command  of  Lieu 
tenant  Bradley  to  support  a  section  of  Rogers'  bat 
tery. 

The  right  of  our  regiment  now  rested  on  this  road. 
Directly  in  front  of  us  was  a  narrow  skirt  of  thin 
woodland  parallel  to  the  main  forest,  and  thirty  or 
forty  rods  distant  from  it.  Penetrating  this  strip  of 


113 

ground,  Company  A  was  deployed  at  a  double-quick 
to  skirmish  and  cover  our  advance. 

A  terrific  fire  on  our  right  on  the  other  side  of  the 
road  told  us  that  the  three  regiments,  which  were 
separated  from  our  view  by  trees,  had  met  with  a 
stout  resistance  ;  but  we  did  not  dream  how  sangui 
nary  was  the  contest  there. 

With  a  brisk  and  steady  step  the  Thirteenth  moved 
up  in  solid  line  close  on  the  heels  of  our  skirmishers, 
who  were  tired  out,  having  been  on  duty  all  the  pre 
ceding  night.  The  instant  we  began  to  emerge  from 
the  narrow  belt  of  trees  and  entered  the  freshly- 
ploughed  field  that  now  intervened  between  us  and 
the  enemy,  a  rapid  fire  greeted  us  from  the  battery, 
"  St.  Mary's  Cannoniers,"  the  Crescent  City  regiment 
directly  in  front,  and  from  the  gunboat  Diana,  a  single 
shot  of  which  killed  two  of  our  men.  The  Sharps' 
rifles  of  Company  A's  skirmishers  now  opened  a  brisk 
fire  upon  the  enemy.  The  Thirteenth,  though  start 
led,  did  not  retreat,  but  continued  advancing  with  as 
much  precision  as  if  at  a  review,  when  Colonel  War 
ner  gave  the  order  to  commence  firing.  This  mode 
of  firing — firing  while  advancing  in  line  of  battle — is 
not  laid  down  in  the  tactics.  We  had  used  it  at  La- 
badieville.  It  seemed  the  spontaneous  action  of  the 
regiment,  and  it  wonderfully  supports  the  courage  of 
the  men.  Nothing,  however,  is  more  difficult  than  to 
load  and  fire  advancing  without  breaking  into  hope 
less  confusion.  Here  the  rigid  drilling  we  had  receiv 
ed,  and  the  perfect  confidence  we  had  in  our  success, 
sustained  us,  notwithstanding  the  shower  of  missiles 
that  drove  in  our  faces,  and  the  hellish  noise  of  battle 
where  the  rest  of  the  brigade  was  engaged  out  of  our 


114 

view.     Had  we  been  able  to  survey  that  part  of  the 
field,  we  should  indeed  have  been  disheartened.     The 
enemy  had  silently  massed  several  regiments  on  the 
right  of  our  brigade,  and  had  suddenly  opened  such 
a  front  and  flank  fire  upon  the  unionists  there  as 
mowed  them  down  by  scores.     A  few   moments  of 
stubborn  fighting,  and  they  retreated  in  disorder  to 
the  middle  of  the  large  field  whence  they  came.     Two 
officers   of    the   Twenty-fifth    were   killed,  and   five 
wounded.     The  Lieutenant-colonel   (Draper),  Adju 
tant,  and  several  other  officers  of  the  One  Hundred 
and  Fifty-ninth  New  York  were  killed,  and  the  Colo, 
nel  severely  wounded.     Draper  was  riding  the  magni 
ficent  horse  of  Colonel  Baker,  who  fell  at  Ball's  Bluff. 
All  the  horses  of  Birge's   staff  officers,   except  one, 
were  killed  or  wounded.     The  rebels  with  their  pecu 
liar  wild-cat  yell  rushed  upon  them  and  made  many 
prisoners.     The  moment  was  an  anxious  one  to  the 
thousands  of  Grover's  Division  who  were  looking  on 
at  the  distance  of  a  mile  or  more.     They  saw  Birge's 
brigade    borne    down   by  the   weight   of  irresistible 
numbers,  and  the  rebels  forming  line  of  battle  in  the 
open  field.      The  Thirteenth  had  disappeared  from 
view  in  the  first  strip  of  wood-land,  and  had  passed 
beyond  the  new  rebel  line.     The  spectators  in  vain 
strained  their  eyes  to  catch  some  glimpse  of  our  re 
tiring  colors,  or  looked  to  see  us  running  in  confu 
sion.     Our  five  hundred  men  were  in  the  midst  of 
three  thousand  rebels.     All  seemed  lost.     Suddenly, 
however,  from  the  gleaming  rifles  of  our  advancing 
line,  there  poured  a  steady  stream  of  lead,  every  man 
loading  and  firing  three  times  a  minute,  and  the  .twen 
ty  or  thirty  shots  per  second  making  with  the  answer- 


115 

ing  fire  of  the  rebel  line  a  prolonged  and  tremendous 
roar.     It  had  no  cessation.     The  white  smoke  reveal 
ed  the  position  of  the  regiment  to  our  friends,  and 
although  they  saw  that  we  were  in  the  very  lair  of  the 
lion,  the  terrible  and  unceasing  din  of  our  arms  as 
sured   them   we   had   no   intention  of  backing  out. 
"  When  the  Thirteenth  commenced  firing,"  said  an 
officer  who   was    among   the   lookers-on,   "  it  didn't 
sound  like  the  other  regiments,  but  there  was  a  stea 
dy  roll  without  any  break  in  the  sound  for  near  ten 
minutes."     "  That  rebel  battery  ceased  firing  mighty 
quick  !"    said  Lieutenant  Leonidas  Hall,  of  the  First 
Louisiana  :  "  I  never  heard  such  firing.     It  seemed 
like  a  never-ending  peal  of  rolling  thunder.     I  knew 
something  had  got  to  give  way  in  front  of  the  Thir 
teenth,  for  no  troops  that  ever  breathed  could  stand 
such  a  fire  as  that."    Said  another  officer  who  wrote  a 
history  of  the  battle  for  the  press,  "  It  was  the  most 
heavy,  rapid  rolling  fire  to  which  I  ever  listened,  wheth 
er  in  battle  or  on  drill."    Said  our  Lieutenant  Bradley, 
who  was  supporting  Rogers'  Battery  at  a  distance,  "  1 
felt  a  good   deal   alarmed  for  you,  till  I  heard  that 
stunning  steady  roar,   and  then  I  knew  that  the  old 
Thirteenth  was  all  right !"     We  certainly  felt  that  we 
were  all  right,  though  fifty  of  our  number  fell  in  the 
first   two   or   three  minutes.     A  little  extravagance 
was  natural ;  and  as  the  writer  of  this  history  was 
swinging  his  sword  over  his  forehead  a  rebel  bullet 
splintered  on  the  hilt,  and  the  fragments  were  buried 
in  his  hand  and  arm.     The  blood  pattering  in  his  face, 
and  a  numbness  in  the  disabled  hand,  first  apprised 
him  that  he  was  wounded.     All  the  while  we  moved 
slowly  forward  in  line,  and  just  before  we  reached  our 


116 

antagonists  their  pet  regiment  followed  the  example 
of  their  pet  battery,  and  disappeared.  The  latter  did 
not  even  stop  to  carry  off  its  banner  which  stood  lean 
ing  there  against  one  of  their  wagons. 

It  is  impossible  to  describe  the  enthusiasm  of  the 
men  at  this  moment.     A   few   Parthian   shots   were 
still  dropping  among  us,  and  the  gunboat  was  still 
sending  its  iron  missiles  through  our  midst.    Our  men 
were  firing  irregularly,  wherever  they  caught  sight  of 
a  retreating  rebel.     "  Battalion,  halt !    Cease  firing  !" 
now  commanded  Colonel  Warner.     The  two  or  three 
companies  on  the  right,  however,  continued  to  fire 
obliquely  in  that  direction.    "  What  does  this  mean  ?" 
said  our  commander  ;  "I  ordered  you  to  cease  firing." 
"  Colonel,  do   you  see  those  men  in  gray  ?"  replied 
Lieutenant  Averill,  commanding  Company  D,  in  the 
absence  of  Captain  Fuller,  who  being  ill,  had  fallen 
out  of  the  column  in  its  advance  that  morning.     At 
this  moment  the  bullets  commenced  corning  thicker 
from  that  quarter,  and  some  even  came  from  a  direc 
tion  obliquely  in  rear  of  the  right  of  our  regiment. 
This  sprinkling  of  shot  was  fast  increasing  to  a  show 
er,  and  again  the  rallying  rebels  began  to  annoy  us  in 
front.     The  alarming  truth  flashed  upon  ^Warner's 
mind  that  the  confederates  had  turned  our  right,  as 
we  had  turned   theirs,  and  had  actually  got  in  our 
rear  !     "  What  shall  I  do  ?"    said  he  in  the  greatest 
perplexity  ;    "  they  have  given  me  no  orders.     Why 
don't  they  send  me  orders  ?"     "  Colonel,"  said  one 
captain,  "  if  you  ask  me,  I  say  wheel  round  to  the 
right  and  charge  bayonets  on  their  flank ;  or  charge 
straight  ahead,  and  then  swing  round  and  take  them 
in  the  rear."     This  hazardous  advice  was  not  foljowed, 


117 

for  at  that  moment  Colonel  Birge  rode  up  and  com 
municated  orders  to  fall  back  to  the  grove,  or  till  we 
met  the  supports  which  General  Grover  had  ordered 
up.  We  retired  slowly  and  sullenly  across  the 
ploughed  field,  many  of  the  soldiers  refusing  to  turn 
from  the  enemy  and  marching  in  the  backward  step, 
as  dreading  to  be  wounded  in  the  back.  Reaching 
the  thin  grove,  word  came  that  the  enemy's  cavalry 
were  about  charging  on  the  Thirteenth.  We  halted, 
fixed  bayonets,  and  awaited  their  onset ;  but  they  did 
not  come.  We  unfixed  bayonets  and  re-opened  fire 
on  the  rallying  rebels. 

The  regiments  on  the  right  having  reformed  line, 
and  Dwight's  brigade  of  our  division  having  made  its 
appearance  in  the  rear,  the  command  "  Forward !" 
was  again  given.  This  time  the  charge  of  our  united 
brigade  swept  everything  before  it  along  the  whole 
front. 

In  this  battle  the  enemy  fought  handsomely.  They 
had,  it  is  true,  the  advantage  of  position,  and  were 
comparatively  hid  from  us,  while  every  movement  of 
ours  was  distinctly  visible  to  them.  This  enabled 
them  to  concentrate  on  the  right  of  our  brigade,  and 
at  first  defeat  us  in  that  quarter.  But  at  this  critical 
moment  the  splendidly  audacious  charge  of  the  Thir 
teenth  broke  the  rebel  lines,  threw  them  into  disorder, 
made  them  believe  a  heavy  force  was  getting  in  their 
own  rear,  and  wrested  victory  from  their  grasp. 

But  though  we  had  driven  the  enemy's  cavalry,  in 
fantry  and  artillery,  the  gunboat  was  still  dropping  its 
shells  with  remarkable  precision  among  us.  Lieuten 
ant  Wells,  with  thirty  sharpshooters  of  the  Thirteenth 
and  Lieutenant  Beaton  of  Co.  E  were  sent  to  pick 
11 


118 

off  its  pilot  and  gunners.  This  contest  was  ended  by 
the  approach  of  Weitzel's  artillery  from  Franklin, 
when  the  rebels  set  the  Diana  on  fire,  and  it  soon 
blew  up  with  a  deafening  explosion. 

Great  numbers  of  dead  and  wounded  men  and 
horses  strewed  the  ground  in  front  of  the  Thirteenth, 
and  attested  the  terrible  destructiveness  of  our  firing. 
Besides  the  property  we  were  obliged  to  abandon 
when  we  received  orders  to  fall  back,  the  Thirteenth 
captured  two  caissons,  one  limber,  four  artillery 
horses  ;  one  particularly  fine  horse,  evidently  an  offi 
cers',  splendidly  caparisoned,  and  long  afterwards 
known  as  "  Irish  Bend  ;"  many  swords  ;  muskets ;  a 
great  quantity  of  ammunition  ;  sixty  prisoners  ;  also 
the  large  and  elegantly  embroided  silk  flag,  bearing 
the  inscription,  "  THE  LADIES  OF  FRANKLIN  TO  THE  ST. 
MARY'S  CANNONIERS."  This  trophy  has  found  its  way 
at  last  to  the  archives  of  the  State  of  Connecticut. 

Marching  away  from  the  field  that  evening  we 
passed  the  Ninety-first  New  York  under  the  com 
mand  of  Colonel  Yan  Zandt.  "  Good  evening, 
Colonel,"  said  our  commander  ;  "  Was  your  regiment 
engaged  to-day?"  "Was  my  regiment  engaged?" 
he  answered  with  astonishment ;  "  I  rather  think  my 
regiment  was  engaged.  The  heaviest  part  of  the 
fighting  was  done  by  my  regiment.  I  lost  six  men." 
It  seems  that  after  Birge's  brigade  had  dislodged  the 
enemy  and  they  were  in  full  retreat,  Dwight's  brigade 
arrived  on  the  spot  in  time  to  receive  a  few  parting 
shots  from  the  gunboat.  What  was  our  surprise  a 
few  weeks  later  to  see  in  one  of  the  illustrated  New 
York  papers  a  glowing  account  of  the  battle,  ascrib 
ing  all  the  honor  to  General  Dwight  and  adding  in 


119 

substance,  as  follows :  "Thus  did  Dvvight's  brigade, 
with  a  loss  of  six  men  accomplish  in  a  quarter  of  an 
hour,  what  Birge's  brigade  had  failed  to  accomplish 
in  three  hours  with  a  loss  of  several  hundred  men !" 

In  this  battle  we  had  seven  men  killed  outright. 
Forty-six  were  wounded.  Among  the  latter  were 
three  officers,  Captain  Sprague,  and  Lieutenants 
Strickland  and  Kinney,  neither  of  whom,  however, 
left  the  field.  Captain  Fuller,  though  not  actively 
engaged  in  the  fight,  was  struck  on  the  leg  by  a  spent 
ball. 

As  we  moved  away  at  sunset  with  martial  music, 
bearing  our  battle-torn  flags  and  the  rebel  trophy,  our 
pride  was  tinged  with  inexpressible  sorrow  and  many 
eyes  filled  with  tears  as  we  passed  the  new  graves 
where  First-sergeant  Frank  E.  Stanley,  one  of  our 
manliest  and  most  promising  soldiers,  and  his  brave 
compatriots  lay.  While  a  member  of  the  Thirteenth 
shall  live,  the  memory  of  the  two  Stanleys  and  the 
rest  of  our  noble  dead  fallen  on  the  bloody  field  of 
Irish  Bend,  shall  never  cease  to  be  cherished. 

Chaplain  Upson  and  Hospital-steward  William 
Bishop  deserve  special  praise.  They  fearlessly  ex 
posed  themselves,  and  rendered  most  valuable  aid  in 
ministering  to  the  wounded  and  removing  them  to  the 
sugar-house  a  mile  or  more  in  the  rear,  which  had 
been  suddenly  converted  into  a  hospital.  One  of  the 
officers  of  the  Thirteenth  thus  describes  the  place  : 
"  After  my  wound  had  been  dressed  I  visited  the 
sugar-mill  which  had  been  turned  into  a  hospital  for 
both  union  and  rebel  wounded.  Twelve  of  my  com 
pany  had  been  hurt — some  of  them*  severely,  and  I 
wished  to  find  them  and  supply  their  wants  if  possible. 


120 

The  night  was  very  dark  and  cold.  Several  hundred 
lay  there.  But  one  or  two  candles  could  be  obtained, 
and  the  surgeons  were  busy  with  these.  There  should 
have  been  at  least  twenty  surgeons,  but  only  three  or 
four  were  present.  Some  of  those  worst  wounded 
did  not  have  any  attention  for  several  days.  Quite  a 
number  of  dead  lay  at  one  door,  and  a  pile  of  legs, 
feet,  arms,  hands,  beside  the  bloody  table  where  the 
surgeons  were  still  amputating.  Nothing  was  to  be 
heard  but  cries,  groans,  entreaties.  It  really  seemed 
as  if  nobody  cared  for  the  sufferers,  so  few  were  there 
to  assist  them.  Groping  a  few  minutes  among  the 
wounded,  for  the  building  was  pitchy  dark,  and  the 
ground  was  covered  with  victims,  I  started  for  a  light. 
It  was  nearly  an  hour  before  I  was  able  to  procure  the 
use  of  one  for  a  few  minutes.  I  soon  found  my  first- 
sergeant.  He  had  been  shot  through  the  neck ;  yet 
as  if  by  a  miracle,  the  wound  was  not  fatal.  He  was 
suffering  from  cold  and  thirst,  and  was  faint  from  loss 
of  blood.  Throwing  my  blanket  over  the  poor  fellow, 
I  returned  to  camp  and  brought  him  a  canteen  of 
hot  coffee,  and  some  food  for  him  and  for  my  other 
wounded.  Detailing  William  Patterson,  one  of  our 
most  faithful  men,  with  strict  orders  to  remain  with 
them  and  nurse  them,  I  left,  being  completely  ex 
hausted,  sick  at  heart  of  war  and  all  its  surroundings." 
Glorious,  yet  mournful  at  best,  is  death  on  the  bat 
tle-field.  Happy  he,  whose  brain  is  instantly  darkened 
by  the  missile  crashing  through  it,  or  whose  life 
gushes  away  in  a  crimson  torrent !  But  sadder  than 
words  can  tell  is^the  fate  of  him  who  lingers  hour  after 
hour  in  agony,  and  then  dies.  The  usual  consolations 
of  the  last  hour  are  wanting :  the  soft  hand  ;  the  last 


121 

• 

kiss ;  the  cooling  draught  that  quenches  the  mortal 
thirst ;  the  whisper  that  bids  the  soul  look  heavenward 
when  the  earthly  eye  is  growing  dim.  Alas  !  no 
angel  graces  or  heavenly  charities  there  !  But  yells, 
curses,  groans,  the  rattle  of  musketry,  the  shrieks  of 
shot  and  shell,  the  earth  ploughed  by  iron  projectiles, 
the  air  rent  by  explosions,  the  roll  of  ponderous 
wheels  crushing  all  beneath  them, — a  hell  on  earth  ! 


ir 


CHAPTER    IV. 

Next  morning  we  were  marched  away  in  pursuit  of 
the  flying  foe.  Our  road  lay  along  the  Bayou  Teche 
through  a  charming  sugar  region.  Madame  Porter's 
plantation,  already  mentioned,  seemed  a  tropical 
paradise.  The  elegant  mansion,  the  delightful 
grounds,  the  wilderness  of  flowers,  orange  groves 
with  fruit  like  the  golden  apples  of  the  Hesperides, 
Madame  Porter  herself,  a  splendidly  beautiful  wo 
man, — all  looked  lovely  as  peace  itself  in  contrast 
with  the  ugliness  of  war.  Her  young  son  was  taken 
prisoner,  but  soon  released.  We  passed  the  residence 
of  a  wealthy  negro,  himself  an  extensive  slave-owner, 
who  had  raised  and  equipped  at  his  own  expense  a 
company  of  white  soldiers  for  the  Confederate  ser 
vice.  His  wife,  it  was  said,  was  a  white  woman,  who 
had  come  South  to  teach.  How  often  the  sublime 
topples  over  into  the  ridiculous. 

That  morning  a  rebel  planter  requested  Col.  Birge 
to  furnish  a  guard  to  protect  his  property.  "  Cer 
tainly,"  said  the  Colonel,  "  if  you  are  a  loyal  citizen 
of  the  United  States."  "  I'm  a  loyal  citizen  of  the 
Confederate  States,"  he  answered  with  an  oath. 
"  Then  I  can't  furnish  a  guard,"  was  the  rejoinder. 
In  a  few  minutes  we  saw,  on  looking  back,  a  dense 
mass  of  smoke  ascending  from  his  dwelling  ;  a  sight 
far  too  common  in  Louisiana. 

We  marched  fifteen  miles  that*  day,  the  enemy 
occasionally  attempting  to  retard  our  progress. 


123 

Many  of  them  were  taken  prisoners.  April  16,  we 
continued  the  pursuit.  At  night  we  bivouacked  in  New 
Iberia.  April  17,  we  passed,  as  we  left  town,  the  car 
casses  of  fourteen  horses  that  marked  yesterday's  cav 
alry  fight.  At  evening,  after  a  twenty  miles  march 
they  made  a  stand  at  Vermilion  Bayou.  Here  they 
set  the  bridge  on  fire  after  a  sharp  resistance  to  our 
van.  The  Thirteenth  marched  rapidly  in  line  of  bat 
tle  to  the  scene  of  action.  The  shells  fell  harmless 
around  us.  At  night  the  regiment  moved  cautiously 
and  silently  in  the  darkness  to  the  river  side.  No 
lights  were  allowed.  We  lay  on  our  arms  in  line  all 
night ;  one  of  the  first  instances  of  a  nocturnal  ex 
perience  that  became  very  common.  Instructions 
were  carefully  communicated  in  reference  to  our  duty 
in  case  of  a  night  attack. 

"Next  morning,  Captain  Grosvenor  was  sent  with 
Company  I  to  reconnoitre.  No  enemy  in  sight. 
During  the  day  a  large  number  of  soldiers  in  bathing 
were  frightened  by  what  they  took  for  the  advance 
guard  of  the  rebels,  and  rushed  back  to  camp  in  pre 
cipitate  flight,  "  naked  as  when  from  earth  they 
came  !"  Companies  A  and  B,  having  been  deployed 
and  advanced  as  skirmishers,  found  only  a  squad  of 
deserters  coming  in. 

The  march  had  begun  to  be  severely  felt,  and  many 
of  our  men  fell  behind  exhausted.  Scanty  rations, 
nights  without  cover,  no  change  of  clothing,  the  heat 
of  noon,  the  cold  of  midnight,  heavy  dews,  fast 
marching  with  the  regiment  always  compact  and 
ready  for  action,  some  of  us  suffering  from  wounds — 
all  combined  to  render  the  intelligence  most  welcome, 
that  we  must  rest  a  day  to  rebuild  the  burnt  bridge. 


124 

The  enemy,  too,  were  mostly  mounted,  and  our  efforts 
to  catch  them  would  have  been  amusing,  had  they  not 
been  so  hopeless  and  fatiguing.  The  battle  of  Ver 
milion  Bayou  was  inscribed  on  the  colors  of  some  regi 
ments,  and  might  have  been  with  equal  propriety  on 
ours. 

At  night,  a  cold,  heavy  rain  flooded  the  ground, 
and  nearly  drowned  us.  Next  morning,  Sunday, 
April  19,  we  marched  fifteen  miles  in  pursuit  towards 
Opelousas.  April  20,  we  marched  an  equal  distance, 
halting  a  mile  from  town.  Companies  H  and  D  went 
out  on  picket.  The  rest  of  the  regiment,  having  just 
got  sound  asleep,  were  waked  at  ten  and  a  half 
o'clock,  and  pushed  eight  miles  further  to  Washing 
ton,  La.  Here  the  two  companies  rejoined  them  next 
day  at  sunset. 

Much  dissatisfaction  prevailed  at  being  so  hurried 
along  in  pursuit  of  a  foe  who  appeared  to  have  out 
generaled  us  and  rendered  nugatory  our  victories  of 
Franklin,  Irish  Bend  and  Vermilion  Bayou.  One 
day  General  Banks  rode  past  our  regiment  as  we  lay 
sweltering  in  the  sun.  Not  a  cheer  greeted  him.  As 
he  passed  in  silence,  our  chaplain,  Rev.  Henry  Upson, 
remarked  to  several  who  sat  exhausted  in  the  dust  be 
side  the  fence,  "  What  abominable  mismanagement 
on  the  part  of  Banks !  I  think  he'd  better-  declare 
again,  '  The  object  of  the  expedition  being  accom 
plished,  the  troops  will  return  to  Baton  Rouge  !'  " 
"  Why,  Chaplain,"  inquired  the  writer,  "  who,  after 
all,  could  have  done  better  than  Banks  ?"  "  Who 
could  have  done  better  !"  he  replied  ;  "  Grover  could 
have  done  belter ;  Birge  could  have  done  better ; 
Warner  could  have  done  better ;  you  could  have  done 


125 

better  ;  I  could  have  done  better.  What's  your  name, 
boy?"  he  said  to  a  little  soldier.  "  McDonough,  yer 
Riverance."  "  Well,  McDonough  could  have  done 
better !  Seriously,  I'd  rather  be  under  McDonough 
than  Banks !" 

April  22,  D  wight's  brigade  passed  us  on  the  road  to 
Alexandria.  We  moved  this  day  through  Washing 
ton  to  a  beautiful  grassy  knoll,  half  a  mile  from  the 
village  and  close  to  the  residence  of  a  Captain  Pres- 
cott  of  the  rebel  army.  Colonel  Warner  was  appoint 
ed  Military  Commander  of  the  town.  Mrs.  Warner 
having  arrived,  the  Colonel  occupied  Prescott's  house 
as  head-quarters.  It  was  well  furnished  and  con 
tained  many  fine  pictures  and  valuable  books.  Part 
of  the  contents  had  been  hastily  packed  but  aban 
doned.  Captain  Tisdale  with  his  company  was 
assigned  to  provost  duty.  Captain  Cornwell  was  still 
acting  regimental  quartermaster;  Captain  Mitchell, 
acting  assistant  adjutant  general  of  Colonel  Birge, 
whose  brigade  head-quarters  was  near  Opelousas  ;  Cap 
tains  Comstock,  Blinn,  McCord,  Finley  and  Fuller,  were 
absent  sick  ;  Captain  Grosvenor,  present,  sick  ;  Cap 
tain  Sprague,  the  only  captain  present  for  duty,  was 
in  command  of  the  regiment. 

April  23,  the  Military  Governor  of  Louisiana,  Gen. 
Shepley,  paid  us  a  visit.  April  24,  Lieutenant  Meiss- 
ner  was  thrown  from  a  disloyal  mule,  and  his  collar 
bone  fractured.  April  25,  General  Weitzel  and  staff 
and  Colonel  Birge  visited  us. 

April  26,  Chaplain  Upson  preached  in  the  Metho 
dist  church,  the  first  Union  sermon  heard  in  that 
town  for  years.  The  text  was,  "  Fight  the  good  fight 
of  Faith,"  with  special  emphasis  on  the  first  word. 


126 

Many  soldiers  and  negroes  and  a  few  poor  whites  con 
stituted  the  congregation.  An  officer's  diary  contains 
the  comment,  "  It  was  a  Jewish  and  not  a  non-resist 
ant  discourse  ;  in  which  the  preacher  fully  coincided 
with  the  Psalmist  in  imprecating  vengeance  on  his 
enemies,  and  gave  an  edifying  description  of  what  he- 
considered  to  be  a  good  fight" 

April  27,  private  John  Fogarty  was  shot  at  ten  p. 
M.,  while  endeavoring  to  escape  from  the  officer  of  the 
day,  whose  repeated  commands  to  halt  he  was  dis 
obeying.  His  sudden  death  was  a  subject  of  painful 
recollection  to  his  company,  commander  and  comrades. 
A  Court  of  Inquiry,  of  which  Captain  Cornwell  was 
president,  fully  justified  the  shooting.  Next  evening 
at  dress  parade  where  Lieut.  Wells  commanded,  an 
order  of  the  Military  Commander  was  read,  reciting 
the  occurrence  and  warning  soldiers  of  the  penalty  of 
disobedience. 

April  30,  our  senior  captain,  Comstock,  rejoined  us. 

Friday  morning,  May  1,  we  marched  ten  miles  from 
Washington  to  Barre's  Landing  on  the  Bayou  Cour- 
tableau,  where  we  arrived  at  noon.  Company  E,  as 
provost  guard,  and  the  sick,  were  left  behind  at  Wash 
ington.  Among  the  latter  was  Lieutenant  Bradley, 
who  appeared  to  be  at  the  point  of  death  from  fever. 
His  condition  was  long  critical,  but  he  finally 
recovered. 

May  2,  Lieutenant  Deming,  Company  H,  was 
assigned  for  duty  to  the  First  Louisiana  Engineers 
(colored),  Colonel  Hodge's  regiment.  Hours  for 
duty  were  announced  as  follows :  Reveille,  sunrise ; 
sick-call,  GAM;  breakfast,  6:30  ;  drill,  7:30  to  8:30  ; 
picket-guard,  8:40  ;  camp-guard,  8:50  ;  drill,  10  to  11 ; 


127 

first  sergeants,    11:45  ;  dinner,  12  ;  drill,  3  to  5  ;  re 
treat,  sunset ;  tattoo,  8:30  ;  taps,  9. 

Paymaster  Sherman's  clerk,  William  Bragg,  Com 
pany  D,  arrived  May  3,  and  paid  the  regiment  next 
day  to  March  1. 

May  5,  the  brigade  started  at  one  o'clock  P.  M.,  and 
went  to  Washington  and  five  miles  further  towards 
Alexandria.  May  6,  the  regiment  marched  twenty- 
two  miles  on  the  dusty  road  to  Alexandria,  keeping 
alongside  the  Little  Bayou  Boeuf.  Owing  to  the  state 
of  the  roads,  the  heat,  and  the  insufficient  food,  this 
march  was  very  severe.  May  7,  we  marched  twenty 
miles  on  the  same  road  and  halted  at  two  P.  M.  in  a 
field  of  oats,  just  cut  by  the  rebels.  Much  of  the 
cotton  in  the  country  was  still  burning  or  had  been 
secreted,  at  our  approach.  All  the  valuable  horses, 
mules,  cattle  and  pigs  had  been  driven  out  of  our 
way.  However,  fresh  meat  and  sugar  abounded.  An 
infinite  multitude  of  snakes,  bugs,  fleas,  wood-ticks, 
and  spiders,  beguiled  our  weary  hours.  We  ate 
some  honey  here,  but  its  effects  were  like  those  of  the 
book  in  Revelations. 

May  8^ we  marched  seventeen  miles  along  the  same 
bayou,  passing  through  Cheney ville.  We  saw  what 
was  said  to  be  the  terminus  of  the  railroad  from 
Alexandria,  and  the  remains  of  a  small  stern-wheel 
steamer,  which  the  rebels  had  saved  us  the  trouble  of 
burning.  The  road  was  hot  and  dusty  beyond  ex 
pression,  and  the  feet  of  company  officers  and  men 
were  parched  and  blistered  ;  but  the  Thirteenth  were 
as  proud  of  their  marching  as  of  their  fighting.  Only 
twenty-two  of  our  number  this  day  "fell  out"  sick 
and  disabled,  so  as  to  be  carried  in  ambulances  ; 


128 

though  there  were  seventy  such  in  the  Twenty-fifth 
Connecticut,  and  the  One  Hundred  and  Fifty-ninth 
New  York  entirely  disappeared  in  vehicles,  except  the 
major  and  two  color-bearers  !  We  reached  a  place 
known  as  Thomson's  Plantation,  where  we  lay  two 
days  and  heard  heavy  cannonading  all  night  at  a  dis 
tance. 

Monday,  May  11,  the  regiment  left  its  bivouac  at 
six  A.  M.  and  marched  four  miles  to  Stafford's  Planta 
tion  on  the  bayou,  thirteen  miles  from  Alexandria. 
Here  Colonel  Warner  and  two  other  regimental  com 
manders  were  put  under  arrest  by  General  Grover  for 
permitting  soldiers  and  negroes  to  seize  poultry,  and 
carry  oif  fence  rails  for  beds.  A  bed  of  rails  is  made 
by  putting  two  rails  side  by  side.  We  slept  wedged 
in  between  them.  Something  should  be  pardoned  to 
the  hungry  and  shelterless.  This  day  a  mail  reached 
us,  the  first  for  some  weeks.  Could  the  fathers, 
mothers,  sisters,  wives,  and  friends  of  our  volunteers, 
have  beheld  the  intense  interest  felt  in  these  missives, 
the  joy  at  receiving  them,  the  sorrow  at  disappoint 
ment,  the  agony  of  torture  at  the  least  suspicion  of 
unfaithfulness  in  those  they  loved,  fewer  tears  would 
have  wet  faces  that  never  blanched  in  battle. 
1  May  12,  we  were  saddened  by  the  report  of  Hook 
er's  great  defeat  at  Chancellorsville  on  the  third  of 
May. 

May  13,  the  anniversary  of  our  arrival  in  New  Or 
leans,  Lieut-col.  Warner,  Surgeon  Clary,  Chaplain 
Upson,  and  Captains  Comstock  and  Cornwell,  rode  a 
dozen  miles  to  Alexandria,  and,  after  the 'most  classic 
model,  watered  their  steeds  in  this  Xanthus.  Orders 
were  received  by  Captain  Sprague  in  their  absence  to 


129 

hold  the  regiment  in  readiness  to  move  at  four  o'clock 
next  morning  with  two  days'  cooked  rations.  Capt. 
Finley  arrived  at  evening  after  several  months' 
absence  in  the  North,  where  he  had  gone  from  Thibo- 
deaux  in  consequence  of  a  terribly  severe  sickness. 
Lieutenant-colonel  Warner  was  released  from  arrest 
this  day. 

Next  day  we  marched  seventeen  miles  back  to 
Cheneyville.  Here  in  the  depot  was  an  immense 
quantity  of  sugar  belonging  to  the  Confederate  gov 
ernment,  all  of  which  was  soon  made  into  candy  by 
our  soldiers. 

May  15,  we  marched  fourteen  miles,  toward  Sims- 
port,  to  Enterprise,  a  place  which  some  wag  must 
have  named  on  the  lucus-a-non-lucendo  principle. 

May  16,  we  marched  sixteen  miles  and  encamped 
alongside  the  Bayou  Rouge.  Peter,  colored  servant 
of  Lieut.  Perkins,  was  tied  up  and  flogged  by  Provost 
Marshal  Cowie  for  taking  a  handful  of  rebel  sugar 
from  a  hogshead  for  his  master. 

May  17,  we  marched  twelve  miles,  the  last  eight  of 
them  along  Bayou  de  Glaze  to  its  junction  with  the 
Atchafalaya  at  Simsport.  We  crossed  the  Atchafa- 
laya  on  large  flat-boats,  rowed  by  negro  boatmen,  who 
sung  a  plaintive  song  as  they  plied  the  long  oars.  The 
Thirteenth  had  the  honor  of  crossing  first.  We  then 
marched  half  a  mile  to  the  music  of  our  unequalled 
band.  Finding  no  one  to  report  to,  we  sat  down 
alongside  the  fine  mansion  of  Senator  Sims  (called 
also  by  the  contrabands,  General  Sims,  or  Semmes). 
The  house  was  made  Headquarters,  Department  of 
the  Gulf. 

Orders  were  received  at  night  to  "  have  full  rations 
12 


130 

cooked,  reveille  at  four  A.  M.,  and  march  at  five  ;" 
but  when  morning  came  these  orders  were  counter 
manded.  Almost  immediately,  however,  we  were 
marched  across  the  road,  and  into  the  field  between 
the  houses  of  Mr.  Sims  and  Mr.  Tishins.  We  had 
just  established  ourselves  in  camp,  if  a  prostrate  regi 
ment,  a  few  of  whom  have  blankets  stretched  over 
them,  can  be  called  a  camp,  when  we  were  moved 
again  to  another  part  of  the  same  field,  and  there 
went  into  a  similar  form.  At  three  P.  M.  we  "  fell 
in"  to  move  again.  A  detail  was  now  made  from 
every  company  to  carry  back  rails,  and  rebuild  the 
distinguished  rebel's  fence,  from  which  our  soldiers 
had  taken  a  few  sticks  for  fires  or  beds. 

May  18  and  1.9,  our  troops  were  still  crossing  the 
river.  Col.  Warner,  Chaplain  Upson,  Captain  Corn- 
well,  Adjutant  Whittlesey,  and  several  other  officers, 
among  whom  was  Quartermaster  Bromley,  visited  one 
of  the  few  elegant  mansions,  and  were  hospitably  re 
ceived  by  the  ladies.  After  some  time  spent  in  agree 
able  conversation,  one  of  the  ladies  volunteered  to  ex 
ecute  some  music  on  the  piano.  She  commenced  the 
Bonnie  Blue  Flag.  When  she  reached  the  close  of 
the  line,  "  As  long-  as  the  Union  was  faithful  to  her 
trust"  her  emotions  overcame  her,  her  voice  faltered, 
tears  streamed  down  her  cheeks,  and  hastily  rising 
she  left  the  room.  Much  sympathy  was  felt  for  the 
beautiful  woman  in  her  grief,  and  the  hearts  of  our 
susceptible  officers  softened  towards  the  lovely  and 
melodious  impersonation  of  rebellion.  The  dignified 
matron  "  improved  "  the  occasion  as  follows  :  "  Alas ! 
we  are  no  longer  united  !  Once  we  had  one  country, 
one  people,  one  nation.  Now  we  have  a  northern 


131 

country,  and  a  southern  country,  a  northern  people, 
and  a  southern  people,  a  northern  nation  and  a  south 
ern  nation  !"  "  Allow  me  in  this  connection",  to  re 
mark,  Madam,"  interrupted  Bromley  in  his  blandest, 
politest  manner,  "  that  the  second  nation  you  so  beau 
tifully  allude  to,  is  a  mere  imagi-nation  /"  This  con 
vulsed  the  listeners  with  merriment  and  restored  good 
feelings  at  once."  "  What's  the  real  object  of  this 
expedition?"  asked  Mrs.  Semmes."  The  real  object 
of  the  expedition,"  replied  the  Chaplain,  "  is  to  pro 
tract  the  expedition  until  the  quartermasters  and  con 
tractors  all  get  rich.  I  verily  believe  if  they  had  their 
way  they'd  keep  us  in  these  swamps  as  long  as  the 
children  of  Israel  were  kept  in  the  wilderness." 
"  Chaplain  Upson,"  responded  Bromley,  "  I  can  tell 
you  why  the  children  of  Israel  were  detained  so  long 
in  the  wilderness.  It  was  because  they  had  too  many 
chaplains  and  too  few  quartermasters !" 

Continuous  cannonading  was  now  heard  nearly 
every  night.  Reports  reached  us  that  several  heavy 
guns  had  been  silenced  by  our  fleet  at  Port  Hudson. 

These  days  of  rest,  though  few  and  brief,  were  like 
an  oasis  in  the  desert,  after  our  toilsome  marches  in 
the  burning  heat  with  the  enemy  forever  in  striking 
distance .  The  fields  were  covered  with  blackberries, 
which  our  soldiers  gathered  by  the  bushel.  The  river 
Atchafalaya,  believed  by  some  geologists  to  be  the 
original  channel  of  the  Mississippi,  was  at  this  season 
broad,  deep,  swift,  abounding  with  alligators  ;  yet  our 
men  greatly  enjoyed  bathing  in  it. 

May  21  was  signalized  by  a  free  fight  in  the  Thir 
teenth,  principally  between  members  of  Companies  H 
and  D.  Privates  Shannon  and  Doyle  of  H  met  in 


132 

single  combat ;  private  Blake  undertook  to  part 
them ;  he  wouldn't  have  any  fighting,  if  he  had  to 
whip  them  both.  He  would  conquer  peace.  Lieu 
tenant  Wells,  officer  of  the  day,  mistook  Blake  for  an 
active  combatant,  which  indeed  he  seemed  to  have  be 
come.  Wells  endeavored  to  arrest  Blake.  Private 
Cashin,  another  peace  man,  came  to  the  defence  of 
Blake  and  drew  a  bayonet  on  the  lieutenant.  Cor 
poral  Herbert  and  several  other  members  of  Co.  I 
rushed  to  the  lieutenant's  assistance.  Other  mem 
bers  of  H  assisted  Blake,  Cashin  and  Doyle.  Captain 
Fuller,  of  Co.  D,  drew  his  pistol  and  rushed  into  the 
melee  to  aid  the  lieutenant ;  but  getting  thrown  on  his 
back,  other  members  of  Company  D  supported  their 
Captain.  Lieut.  Norman  now  sprang  to  the  help  of 
the  two  officers,  whereupon  members  of  Co.  K  ran  to 
the  help  of  Lieut  Norman.  So  the  fight  became  gen 
eral.  Swords  were  drawn,  pistols  flourished,  and  bay 
onets  thrust.  Captain  of  Co.  H,  field  officer  of  the 
day,  took  the  guard  and  marched  rapidly  to  the  spot, 
bringing  the  pieces  to  a  charge  bayonet !  The  crowd 
dispersed  instantly.  No  one  being  much  hurt,  it 
passed  off  as  a  huge  joke.  Louisiana  rum  was  at  the 
bottom  of  it. 

The  same  day  our  brigade  embarked  on  the  steam 
ers  Empire  Parish  and  Saint  Maurice  for  the  siege  of 
Port  Hudson.  Our  course  was  up  the  Atchafalaya  to 
Old  River,  thence  out  to  the  Mississippi,  and  down  to 
Bayou  Sara.  This  is  some  twenty  miles  above  Port 
Hudson.  Near  the  mouth  of  Red  River  we  saw  the 
flag-ship  Hartford,  and  the  two  iron-clads,  Lafayette 
and  Switzerland;  when  the  brigade  gave  three  cheers 
for  Farragut.  At  midnight  we  arrived  at  Bayou  Sara. 


133 

We  disembarked,  and  lay  an  hour  on  the  wet  ground 
without  blankets,  a  slight  rain  adding  to  our  discom 
fort.  The  regiment  then  crept  cautiously  along  the 
streets  and  out  of  town  in  the  deep  darkness.  As  we 
passed  one  large  dwelling  house  the  front  door  open 
ed.  A  figure  in  white  appeared,  and  asked  in  the 
sweetest  of  tones,  "  What  regiment  is  this  ?"  Some 
of  our  boys  replied,  "The  Thirteenth,  my  darling!" 
"Ah!  the  Thirteenth  Georgia?"  she  tenderly  asked. 
"  No,  my  dear  ;  the  Thirteenth  Connecticut,"  was  the 
reply.  The  door  shut  with  a  heavy  slam.  The  seraph 
in  white  had  vanished, 

"  As  an  angel's  wing,  through  an  opening  cloud, 
Is  seen  and  then  withdrawn." 

Halting  now  and  then,  and,  as  it  were,  feeling  our 
way,  we  finally  turned  aside  half  a  mile  from  town 
into  a  field  which,  ominously  enough,  proved  to  be  a 
cemetery.  The  scant  baggage  of  officers  on  the 
march 'had  been  left  in  wagons,  and  we  slept  as  best 
we  might,  without  fires  or  blankets.  -  Ex-governor 
Wickliffe,  reputed  at  that  time  the  handsomest  man 
in  Louisiana,  was  arrested  this  night  in  Bayou  Sara 
as  a  prisoner  of  war.  Here  we  found  people  who  did 
not  know  what  greenbacks  were.  When  we  explain 
ed,  they  refused  to  take  them  and  insisted  on  receiv 
ing  confederate  paper  in  payment  for  butter,  honey, 
corn-bread,  and  milk. 

At  nine  o'clock,  A.  M.,  we  marched  out  on  the  road 
towards  Port  Hudson,  our  skirmishers  feeling  their 
way,  and  the  troops  making  halts  about  once  every 
half  mile.  About  twenty  men  of  the  Thirteenth  were 
hastily  mounted  and  detached  as  advance  guards. 
12* 


134 

From  time  to  time  they  engaged  the  guerilla  cavalry 
of  the  enemy.  In  one  of  these  skirmishes  private 
Flannery  of  Company  B,  received  a  ball  through  the 
leg,  and  was  borne  past  us  on  a  stretcher,  the  first 
man  wounded  of  the  army  approaching  Port  Hudson 
from  the  north.  Lieutenant  Perkins  was  reported 
killed,  but  we  were  delighted  soon  after  to  find  him 
"  all  right."  On  this  march  General  Banks  com 
menced  picking  up  all  the  able-bodied  negroes,  and 
mounting  them  on  mules,  to  the  great  distress  of 
Governor  Wickliffe,  who  accompanied  us  on  foot. 
About  noon  General  Banks  passed  us.  We  were  at  a 
halt.  He  was  alone,  and  riding  towards  the  front  into 
danger.  Our  men  liked  this  unpretending  manner 
and  his  personal  bravery,  and  for  the  first  time  they 
gave  him  a  rousing  cheer.  Captain  Mitchell  volun 
teered  as  a  temporary  aid  to  the  General,  who  exhib 
ited  a  fearlessness  that  almost  amounted  to  reckless 
ness. 

This  day,  May  23,  we  reached  a  point  six  or  seven 
miles  from  Port  Hudson.  Towards  dark  a  little  epi 
sode  occurred  in  the  camp  of  the  Thirteenth.  A 
certain  Dr.  Whicher,  surgeon  of  the  Confederate  line, 
stationed  at  Port  Hudson,  was  arrested.  He  had  been 
seen  on  horse-back  during  the  day,  taking  notes  from 
time  to  time  on  the  road,  inquiring  the  names  of  regi 
ments  and  brigades.  His  appearance  and  manner 
excited  suspicion.  He  looked  about  thirty-five  years 
old,  evidently  a  man  of  some  education  and  ability,  a 
little  under  the  influence  of  stimulants,  and  a  perfect 
embodiment  of  chivalry.  As  night  approached  he 
was  seen  riding  slowly  in  a  buggy,  the  orderly  of  Colo 
nel  Bissell,  Twenty-fifth  Connecticut,  accompanying 


135 

him.  Inquiring  of  our  soldiers  where  the  pickets 
were,  he  attempted  to  pass  them.  Not  being  permitted 
without  a  pass  from  General  Grover,  he  returned. 
Two  or  three  officers,  hearing  the  statements  of  the 
men,  made  known  their  suspicions  to  Colonel  Warner, 
who  called  him  back  and  asked  him  who  he  was. 

"  I  want  to  see  General  Grover,"  he  answered. 

11  Who  are  you  ?"  said  the  Colonel. 

"  What  business  have  you  to  ask  me  that  question  ?'r 

"  I  command  this  regiment,  and  I  have  a  right  to 
know  who's  in  my  camp.  Your  conduct  has  been 
very  suspicious,  and  I  demand  to  be  answered,  and 
answered  in  a  respectful  manner." 

"  It's  none  of  your  d business.     I  shall  go  to 

General  Grover,  d you,  and  report  your  d 

insolence,"  replied  Dr.  Whicher. 

"  You  are  my  prisoner,  sir,  and  you  need  not  try  to 
intimidate  me,"  said  the  Colonel. 

"  1  try  to  intimidate  you  !    I  swear  that's  a 

bright  idea,  by  !     I  try  to  intimidate  you 

in  presence  of  the  whole  Yankee  Army  !  That  is  a 
d pretty  idea  !  In  the  middle  of  the  whole  Fede 
ral  army  ! your  army  ! you 

and  your  army  !" 

"  You  infernal  puppy  !"  said  Colonel  Warner,  "  you 
shut  up  your  mouth.  Lieutenant  Norman,  are  you 
officer  of  the  guard  ?  Take  this  man  to  General  Gro 
ver  with  my  compliments.  Tell  him  that  he  refuses 
to  disclose  his  name,  and  I  suspect  him  of  being  a 
spy." 

«  By  -  — "  responded  Dr.  Whicher,  "  I'm  not 
afraid  to  disclose  my  name.  My  name's  Whicher. 
I'm  a  surgeon  of  the  Confederate  line,  by  . 


136 

I'm  not  afraid  of  any  d Yankee  that  ever  breath 
ed  !  your  cowardly  soul !  By  r 

I'd  like  to  fight  you.     I  dare  you  to  fight !      By  

I'll  fight  you  with  pistols,  I'll  fight  you  with  rifles,  I'll 
fight  you  with  bowie-knives,  I'll  fight  you  with  any 

d weapon  you  choose.'''     Springing  upon  his  feet 

in  the  buggy,  he  struck  his  right  fist  violently  into 
the  palm  of  his  left  hand,  gesticulating  fiercely,  defy 
ing  us  all  and  spitting  out  a  torrent  of  curses.  It  was 
suggested  by  the  writer  to  Colonel  Warner  to  examine 
his  pockets  for  papers.  Norman's  guard  having  ar 
rived,  the  doctor  was  searched,  and  on  him  was  found 
a  paper  signed  by  the  commander  of  the  Confederate 
picket  inside  Port  Hudson,  ordering,  "Pass  Dr. 
Whicher  at  all  hours  ;"  also,  a  letter  purporting  to 
come  from  the  daughter  or  niece  of  a  rebel  prisoner, 
praying  some  friend  to  intercede  with  General  Banks, 
humbling  though  it  might  be,  to  rescue  her  relative 
from  the  horrid  Yankees. 

The  horse  and  buggy  were  given  to  Dr.  Clary  for 
transportation  of  the  sick.  Of  the  roast  chicken  and 
corn-bread  inside  the  vehicle  it  was  rumored  that 
Adjutant  Whittlesey  made  a  good  evening  meal.  Dr. 
Whicher's  shirts  also  were  confiscated  ;  a  practice  not 
to  be  justified  under  any  circumstances.  Dr.  Which 
er  himself  was  delivered  into  the  custody  of  the  pro 
vost  marshal. 

This  night  it  rained,  and  the  officers  sleeping  under 
the  thorn  trees,  without  blankets  or  even  shelter- 
tents,  passed  a  most  dreary  night. 

Next  day  we  moved,  with  the  rest  of  -Grover's  Di 
vision,  three  or  four  miles  to  the  cross  roads  leading 
to  Jackson  from  Bayou  Sara  and  Port  Hudson.  Here 


137 

we  met  Grierson's  cavalry.  Weitzel  was  reported 
closing  in  on  our  right ;  D  wight,  between  us  and  Weit 
zel  ;  Auger,  on  our  left  next  the  river.  Augur  was 
reported  to  have  had  a  sharp  fight  in  which  he  drove 
the  enemy  a  day  or  two  before.  At  the  forks  of  the 
roads  we  hastily  constructed  breast-works  of  fence 
rails,  logs  and  earth,  to  repel  any  sortie.  Had  the  ene 
my  been  wise  they  would  have  evacuated  the  place 
before  our  arrival,  and  the  rebel  general,  Johnson,  did 
send  a  courier  with  such  orders,  which  were  either 
intercepted  or  disobeyed.  Sergeant  Steele,  Company 
A,  was  here  injured  by  rails  falling  on  him. 

At  half  past  nine,  A.  M.,  Sunday,  May  24, 1863,  the 
different  converging  columns  drew  nearer,  and  the 
investment  was  complete.  Birge's  brigade  moved 
three  miles.  The  first  shot  at  our  advance  on  the 
Jackson  road,  in  which  our  regiment  marched,  was 
just  before  noon.  Sharp  skirmishing  ensued.  A 
labyrinth  of  woods,  lanes,  and  ravines  afforded  cover 
for  defensive  operations.  We  carried  several  outer 
earth-works  and  rifle-pits  on  the  Jackson  road,  and 
pressed  the  enemy  back  within  their  main  parapet. 
Advancing,  the  Thirteenth,  near  the  last  bridge,  struck 
off  diagonally  to  the  right  into  the  woods,  and  took 
a  position  half  a  mile  from  the  principal  line  of  works. 
Here  we  were  treated  to  shell  and  grape,  and  two 
or  three  received  slight  wounds.  The  bugs  and  ver 
min  were  quite  as  disagreeable  as  the  rebel  projectiles. 
The  whole  of  the  woods  for  miles  bore  traces  of  hav 
ing  been  a  rebel  camp,  and  confirmed  the  report  that 
at  the  bombardment  in  March  they  had  not  less  than 
eighteen  thousand  men.  Captain  Fuller  was  sent  in 
command  of  Companies  A,  F,  D,  and  I.  Holding  A 


138 

as  reserve,  he  sent  Lieuts.  Strickland,  Beckwith  and 
Wells  forward  with  the  three  other  companies  to  skir 
mish.  Sharp  fighting  ensued,  the  officers  and  men 
pressing  forward  with  the  utmost  gallantry,  until  they 
were  outflanked  and  obliged  to  retire.  Here  fell  that 
brave  and  true  man,  Sergeant  Torrence,  Co.  F.  He 
was  leading  his  men,  when  a  bullet  pierced  his  fore 
head.  Three  days  later  we  found  his  body,  then 
swollen  and  blackened  in  the  sun,  far  to  the  front 
where  he  fell. 

Next  morning,  Cos.  A,F,D,i,  H,  under  command 
of  Captain  Sprague,  were  pushed  forward  to  a  thicket 
on  the  left  of  the  Jackson  road,  and  about  a  hundred 
and  twenty  rods  from  the  parapet ;  the  other  half  of  the 
regiment  remaining  in  the  woods  with  Col.  Warner. 
The  captain  threw  out  twenty-five  skirmishers  under 
Lieut.  Wells,  with  orders  to  press  the  enemy's  sharp 
shooters  and  at  night  constitute  a  picket.  They 
forced  the  enemy  back  to  their  rifle-pits,  and  in  the 
afternoon  put  a  stop  to  most  of  the  sharp-shooting 
that  had  been  so  annoying  in  the  morning.  A  shower 
of  balls  saluted  any  one  who  stepped  from  behind 
cover. 

We  were  startled  by  rapid  and  tremendous  volleys 
of  musketry  close  to  us  on  the  right,  mingled  with 
discharges  of  artillery.  It  was  the  regiments  of  Dwight 
firing  by  company,  and  the  rapidity  seemed  to  indi 
cate  serious  work.  It  soon  ceased,  however,  at  a  bu 
gle  signal. 

A  decayed  tree  in  our  front  by  the  road-side  appear 
ing  to  be  a  guide  for  their  artillery,  it  was  suggested  to 
Col.  Birge  to  cut  it  down.  He  sent  pioneers,  who 
felled  it  that  night. 


139 


By  direction  of  Col.  .Birge,  privates  Sidder,  Mc- 
Grath,  and  Ellis  Robinson,  all  of  G,  were  selected  by 
Captain  Sprague  and  sent  out  at  midnight  with  in 
structions  to  crawl  up  to  the  parapet,  examine  the 
intervening  ground,  the  width  and  depth  of  the  moat, 
and  the  practicability  of  scaling  the  works.  We  sup 
plied  them  with  pistols.  They  were  unable  to  reach 
the  ditch,  but  they  passed  the  rebel  pickets.  Their 
investigations  were  valuable,  and  their  courage  de 
served  reward.  The  pickets  of  the  Twenty-fifth  Con 
necticut  fired  on  them  by  mistake. 

Sergeants  Aldrich  and  Ward,  of  H  and  D,  were 
sent  to  open  communication  with  Augur's  infantry  on 
our  left.  With  some  difficulty  and  danger  they  suc 
ceeded.  Thenceforward  these  bases  were  in  constant 
connection. 

From  tree-tops  we  could  see  miles  of  fortifications, 
heavy  guns  mounted,  tents,  huts,  houses,  the  rebel 
flag,  regiments  and  companies  marching,  and  what 
appeared  to  be  inner  earthworks.  May  26,  Colonel 
Birge's  pioneers  constructed  a  ladder  on  the  main 
look-out  tree  at  our  place  of  regimental  bivouac. 
Sergeants  Huntley,  Ward,  and  other  intelligent  non 
commissioned  officers  were  kept  constantly  on  the 
watch  at  the  top  with  powerful  glasses.  At  the  foot 
of  the  tree  was  General  Grover,  or  one  of  his  staff. 
Frequent  messengers  from  Augur  inquired  about  the 
enemy's  movements,  and  the  effect  of  our  heavy  shot. 
From  a  captain's  diary  the  following  is  extracted : 
"  May  27,  about  half-past  ten  A.  M.,  the  Thirteenth 
was  ordered  to  the  support  of  Weitzel  who  was  re 
ported  pressing  into  the  enemy's  works  on  our  right. 
We  moved  in  that  direction  half  or  three-quarters  of 


140 

a  mile,  through  the  woods  which  contained  many  dead 
and  wounded.  The  enemy's  projectiles  were  still 
shrieking  through  the  woods.  Here  we  halted  and 
lay  all  the  afternoon  in  line  of  battle,  expecting  the 
order  to  charge,  while  the  dead  and  wounded  were 
borne  in  long  procession  past  us.  The  Twelfth  Con 
necticut  is  reported  to  have  fought  bravely  and  con 
spicuously,  some  of  them  scaling  the  parapet. 
WeitzePs  whole  brigade  behaved  finely.  Three  of 
his  staff  were  killed.  One  of  them  was  his  Adjutant 
General,  Captain  Hubbard,  formerly  of  the  First 
Maine  Battery,  one  of  the  finest  looking  and  best  offi 
cers  in  the  army  ;  another  was  the  accomplished  Pole, 
Wrotnowski,  one  of  the  most  skillful  of  our»engineers, 
the  builder  of  Fort  Butler  at  Donaldsonville.  The 
Twelfth  Maine  charged  across  the  moat  and  lay  all 
day  on  the  slope  of  the  breastwork.  The  negro  regi 
ment  of  Colonel  Nelson  fought  with  reckless  daring, 
and  the  most  extravagant  tales  of  their  heroism  are 
related  by  the  correspondent  of  the  New  York  Herald 
and  others.  There  was  no  need  of  exaggeration. 
The  simple  fact  is,  the  negroes  fought  well,  and  their 
heroic  conduct  reflects  honor  on  their  race.  Generals 
Sherman  and  Dow  were  wounded.  Two  or  three  of 
the  Thirteenth  were  slightly  wounded." 

The  shower  of  balls  was  so  severe  that  some  of 
our  cooks  dared  not  bring  dinner  or  supper.  Happily 
we  were  allowed  to  lie  down  behind  logs,  while  the 
long  storm  wreaked  its  vengeance  on  trees  and  horses. 
But  the  regiments  of  Weitzel  suffered  terribly. 
After  his  own  desperate  onset  had  failed,  he  is  said  to 
have  sent  word  to  General  Banks,  "  I  have  yet  to 
learn  that  any  other  general  has  co-operated  in  the 
assault,  which  was  ordered  to  be  simultaneous." 


141 

May  28,  there  was  an  armistice  of  several  hours,  to 
allow  the  burial  of  the  dead.  We  moved  at  evening 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  to  the  left,  to  support  Duiyea's 
and  Bainbridge's  batteries.  We  were  here  placed 
temporarily  under  Acting  Brigadier  General  Paine, 
commanding  a  division.  This  night  we  slept  on  arms 
in  line. 

Next  morning  we  moved  back  to  the  position  of  the 
preceding  day.  Again  we  received  all  day  a  smart 
sprinkling  of  rebel  balls.  They  had  a  cross-fire  on  us, 
as  the  writer  learned  when,  seated  with  back  to  a  tree, 
a  ball  tore  off  the  bark  under  his  ear.  Corporal  Fin- 
negan,  Co.  G,  received  a  ball  through  the  arm.  To 
venture  from  behind  cover  was  sure  to  engage  the 
skill  of  the  rebel  sharpshooters.  We  became  accus 
tomed  to  being  shot  at.  We  were  strikingly  remind 
ed  how  vast  a  quantity  of  lead  and  iron  may  fly 
through  the  air  and  alight  on  this  wide  world,  with 
out  hurting  a  human  being  !  Some  of  these  visitors 
came  close.  One  bullet  passed  through  Colonel 
Birge's  coat.  A  rain  at  night  soaked  everything,  and 
we  thought  how  old  Cromwell  trusted  in  God,  and 
wondered  if  he  really  kept  his  powder  dry.  A  brisk 
artillery  fire  at  night  awoke  us  from  dreams  of  home. 

May  30  was  a  busy  day.  The  continued  rattle  of 
musketry  and  artillery  indicated  that  we  were  getting 
well-acquainted.  This  interchange  of  civilities  indi 
cated  no  personal  hostility.  We  did  not  feel  like 
hurting  one  hair  of  a  rebel  head.  Never  did  men 
march  to  battle  with  less  hatred  than  the  Union  sol 
diers. 

The  Thirteenth  remained  all  day,  and  for  two 
weeks  thereafter,  in  a  ravine,  under  and  behind  the 
13 


142 

two  batteries.      Two   thirty-pound    Parrots    of   the 
Twenty-first  Indiana  were  mounted  on  the  right.  The 
shot  were  continually  sounding  past  us  from  the  vol 
canic  works  in  front.  The  noise  was  singularly  varied  : 
sometimes,  a  buzzing  like  a  bumble-bee ;  sometimes, 
a  fine  sharp  tone  like  a  musquito's  ;  sometimes,  a  great 
rush  like  a  train  of  cars  ;  sometimes,  a  real  shriek  or 
scream  like  the  whistle  of  a  locomotive  ;  sometimes, 
an  intermittent  squeak  like  an  ungreased  cartwheel. 
The  last  was  the  case  with  the  eleven-inch  shells  of 
one  gun  mounted  on  the    turn-table  at   the    railroad 
depot,  which  fired  all  around  the  horizon  every  night. 
The  Thirteenth  boys  christened  it   The  Demoralizer  ! 
Further  along  on  the  right  it  was  known  as  The  Lady 
Davis  !     The  shells  being  often   empty,  their  swift 
rotation    caused   them    to  observe    a   crescendo    and 
diminuendo,  which  the  soldiers  translated  into,  Where 
is  he  ?    Where  is  he  ?  till  they  finally  exploded  into  a 
loud,  HEBE!     The    strange  sounds   were  caused  by 
still  stranger  projectiles ;  for  they  fired   not  only  the 
regulation  shot,  but  such  curiosities  as  explosive  bul 
lets,  cane-knives,  flat-irons,  spikes,  bolts,  nuts,  hatch 
ets,  ramrods,  pig-iron,  and  wooden  plugs  wound  with 
cotton  ! 

The  Thirteenth  busied  themselves  in  constructing 
rude  huts  and  caves  in  the  soft,  steep  slope  of  the 
ravine,  the  crest  of  which  was  crowned  with  batter 
ies.  The  chief  fear  was  that  some  of  these  guns,  in 
their  recoil,  would  come  crushing  down  upon  our  shan 
ties,  for  they  often  fired  all  night.  The  writer  slept 
with  perfect  soundness  within  twenty  feet  of  one 
piece  of  artillery  which  was  constantly  firing  over  his 
head. 


143 

Meantime  our  sharpshooters  were  busy  at  work  in 
front,  and  rebel  bullets  sang  incessantly  through  the 
brush  roofs  of  our  huts.  The  pieces  of  shell  often 
struck  with  a  heavy  thud  among  us.  All  day  the 
gigantic  game  of  battledoor  and  shuttlecock  between 
frowning  batteries  !  All  night  the  meteoric  shower 
of  bombs  ! 

Sunday,  May  31,  Lieut.  Beck  with,  while  trying  his 
skill -in  shooting,  was  struck  by  a  bullet  which  carried 
away  one  toe.  His  language  on  the  occasion  would 
have  led  a  bystander  to  infer  that  he  thought,  if  pro 
fanity  were  ever  justifiable,  it  was  precisely  then. 

Sergeant  Eugene  Ward's  commission  as  lieutenant 
arrived  this  day. 

June  1,  Col.  Warner  and  Adjutant  Whittlesey 
were  taken  sick,  and  departed  in  ambulances  for  New 
Orleans.  Captain  Comstock,  as  senior  captain,  suc 
ceeded  to  the  command.  Lieut.  Gardner  was  ap 
pointed  Acting  Adjutant.  Large  guns  and  mortars 
were  constantly  arriving.  We  were  busy  every  mo 
ment  ;  cutting  trees,  removing  obstructions,  making 
military  roads,  digging  rifle  pits,  raising  counter 
breastworks,  mounting  heavy  artillery,  perfecting 
our  connections,  or  sharpshooting.  The  coils  of  the 
anaconda  were  growing  tight. 

Lieutenant  Beaton  arrived  this  day  with  Co.  E 
from  New  Orleans,  where  they  had  made  their  way 
from  Washington,  La.,  with  a  loss  of  a  few  who  were 
taken  prisoners.  Captain  Tisdale  was  left  sick  in 
New  Orleans.  He  shortly  afterwards  secured  the 
position  of  Assistant  Provost  Marshal  in  that  city,  and 
the  regiment  lost  his  valuable  services. 

June  2,  expecting  a  sally,  our  regiment,  by  order 


144 

of  Colonel  Paine,  formed  line  just  after  dark  on  the 
brow  of  the  ravine,  and  slept  on  arms.  There  was 
the  usual  cannon  and  mortar  practice. 

June  3,  we  were  occupied  with  cutting  a  military 
road  through  our  ravine,  under  the  supervision  of 
Colonel  Paine.  This  night  the  enemy  shelled  us  with 
unusual  accuracy. 

June  4,  Lieutenant  Tibbets,  one  of  our  best  officers, 
rejoined  us  after  a  long  sickness.  Colonel  Paine,  for 
whom  we  had  conceived  a  hearty  respect,  was  sent  to 
the  rear  with  two  brigades,  to  watch  the  enemy  re 
ported  hovering  there. 

June  5,  Captain  Grosvenor  returned  from  New 
Orleans,  where  he  had  been  a  month  sick. 

Several  marine  batteries  of  heavy  guns  from  the 
fleet  were  in  process  of  erection.  One  remarkable 
battery,  called  the  nineteen-gun  battery,  was  built  by 
Hodge's  colored  regiment,  of  which  the  writer  had 
been  commissioned  lieutenant-colonel.  It  was  on 
the  extreme  left,  opposite  one  of  the  so-called  citadels 
of  the  rebels.  Everything  pointed  to  the  coming 
bombardment  preliminary  to  a  great  assault.  Rifle 
pits,  saps,  mines,  and  parallels,  were  preparing. 

General  Sherman's  force  was  on  our  extreme  left ; 
Augur,  on  the  left  centre  ;  Grover,  the  centre ;  Weit- 
zel,  the  right  centre  ;  the  colored  brigade,  on  the  ex 
treme  right ;  Farragut  and  a  portion  of  his  fleet,  on 
the  river  above ;  the  mortar  schooners  and  the  rest  of 
the  fleet,  on  the  river  below  ;  across  the  river,  and 
behind  the  levee,  the  batteries  of  the  Twenty-first  In 
diana,  and  Carruth's  Massachusetts  battery. 

June  10,  at  midnight,  there  was  lively  fighting 
along"  the  entire  front.  A  continuous  line  of  skirm- 


145 

ishers  had  been  formed  to  feel  the  enemy's  strength 
on  all  points,  ascertain  the  position  of  the  rebel  artil 
lery,   and,  if  the  aspect   were   favorable,   scale   and 
carry   the   fortifications.     Heavy   cannonading   com 
menced  about  half  an  hour  after  midnight,  and  con 
tinued  two  or  three  hours.     A  thunderstorm  came  on 
with  blinding  lightning  and  stunning   crashes.     The 
gods  seemed  mingling  in  the  battles  of  men,  as  of  old 
on   the  plains  of  Troy.     The   Thirteenth  "  fell  in  " 
under  arms,  and  stood  exposed  to  the  hostile  fire,  but 
not  participating  actively  in  the  engagement.     Only 
one  man,  private  Jacob  Kehr,  Co.  F,  was  wounded 
seriously.     The  Twelfth   Connecticut   were   ordered 
into   the  hottest  fight,   and  behaved  with  the  utmost 
gallantry.     A  portion  of  them  even  crossed  the  breast 
works  ;  but  not  being  supported   by  the  other  regi 
ments  of  WeitzePs  division,  they  were  forced  to  retire 
with  heavy  loss.     The  assault  failed  on  every  side. 

A  tedious,  though  not  copious  rain  fell  next  day, 
which  passed  rather  gloomily  ;  all  sorts  of  rumors  pre 
vailing  about  the  assault  of  the  preceding  night,  and 
the  coming  general  attack.  The  rebel  sharpshooters 
were  rather  more  active  than  usual,  and  the  writer 
remembers  with  satisfaction  several  narrow  escapes 
with  Lieutenant  Averill. 

In  anticipation  of  the  expected   storming  of  the 
works,  Colonel  Paine,  who  had  returned  to  his  former 
•  quarters  in  rear  of  Co.  A,  gave  instructions  to  a  large 
number  of  soldiers  in  the  use  of  the  hand-grenade. 

June  12,  private  Adam  Bach,  Co.  H,  was  buried  by 

the  falling  in  of  his  earth  house.     With  difficulty  he 

was  extricated  alive,  entertaining  new  views  on  the 

subiect   of  architecture !     Lieutenant  Baker,  one  of 

13* 


146 

our  best-drilled  officers,  who  was  sick,  occupied  a 
bomb-proof,  constructed  by  engineer  John  Ryan,  Co. 
G. 

The  inconveniences  to  which  most  of  the  officers 
and  soldiers  were  subjected  before  Port  Hudson  can 
hardly  be  exaggerated.  Among  other  privations  there 
was  a  great  scarcity  of  water.  It  was  difficult  to  get 
enough  to  drink,  and  almost  impossible  to  procure 
enough  to  wash  with.  Little  of  clothing  indeed  had 
we ;  a  shirt,  pair  of  drawers,  and  pair  of  socks  con 
stituting  the  whole  of  our  underclothing.  The  most 
troublesome  plague  was  vermin.  The  ground  had 
been  a  Confederate  camp,  and  was  filled  with  rebel 
lice.  When  Captain  Grosvenor  returned,  June  o,  he 
asked  first-sergeant  Sterry,  "  How  are  the  men  ?" 
"  Pretty  well,"  replied  the  sergeant,  "  only  very 
lousy  !"  «  What !"  said  the  Captain,  "  lousy  ?  We 
must  get  rid  of  that !"  Evidently  the  Captain  was 
not  posted.  "  Captain,"  said  Col.  Holcomb  to  the 
writer,  on  the  twelfth  of  June,  taking  him  aside  with 
an  air  of  great  mystery  and  with  many  apologies,  "  I 
have  noticed  that  you — ah — in  short — that  you — I 
hope  you'll  excuse  me,  for  I'm  troubled  that  way  my 
self — I  noticed  that  you — ah — scratch  a  great  deal ! 
Now  probably  you  think  it's  a  sort  of  camp  itch  ! 
But  I  tell  you,  its  nothing  more  nor  less  than — lice  ! 
The  ground's  full  of  'em,  wherever  these  blamed 
rebels  have  been !"  "  Colonel,"  was  the  answer, 
I've  fought  'em  an  hour  a  day  for  weeks  past !  This 
morning  Col.  Birge  and  staff  caught  me  at  it,  and 
asked  me,  '  Captain,  what  do  you  find  ?'  to  which  I 
answered  in  the  language  of  Orpheus  C.  Kerr,  4  only 
a  few  harmless  insects  !'  "  From  the  Brigadier-Gen- 


147 

eral  to  the  private,  every  man  must  give  an  hour  a 
day  to  exterminate  that  vile  race.  Musquitoes  are 
decent  and  rattlesnakes  quite  respectable  ;  but  no  man 
can  apologize  for  lice  ! 

The  arrangements  for  the  bombardment  had  been 
completed  ;  the  great  batteries  on  every  side  con 
verged  on  the  obstinate  fortress ;  the  ships  with  their 
volcanic  freight  were  in  position  ;  the  sappers  and 
miners  had  run  their  parallels  and  concealed  ap 
proaches  far  up  towards  and,  in  some  cases,  beneath  the 
rebel  works ;  the  hand-grenades  were  filled  and  dis 
tributed  to  picked  men. 

June  13,  at  11  o'clock,  A.  M.,  a  furious  general 
bombardment  commenced,  which  the  rebels  as  furi 
ously  returned.  It  lasted  two  hours,  and  made  con 
siderable  havoc  among  the  rebels,  dismounting  a  num 
ber  of  their  cannon.  It  ceased  on  the  appearance  of 
a  flag  of  truce.  In  vain !  The  surrender  was  de 
manded.  A  defiant  answer  was  returned.  The  seven 
thousand  defenders  of  Port  Hudson  could  not  fly  and 
would  not  yield. 

The  night  following  was  unusually  quiet,  as  the 
writer  had  occasion  to  note,  being  up  on  duty  as  Offi 
cer  of  the  Day.  Lieut.  Strickland,  destined  to  fall  in 
the  early  morning,  was  Officer  of  the  Guard.  Together 
we  visited  the  different  parts  of  the  line,  and  his  cheerful 
animated  conversation  gave  no  augury  of  his  swift- 
coming  doom.  He  had  been  slightly  wounded  at 
Irish  Bend  ;  but  slight  wounds  only  make  a  brave  man 
braver ;  and  he  spoke  of  the  coming  engagement  with 
confidence. 

Colonel  Holcomb,  who  fell  by  Strickland's  side,  was 
ardently  in  favor  of  the  storming.  "  It' s  no  use  to 


148 

dilly-dally,"  said  he  to  Dr.  Clary,  as  he  was  moving 
his  brigade  to  its  position  the  evening  before  the  bat 
tle  ;  "  We'll  take  the  place,  even  if  we  leave  Half  of 
our  officers  dead  on  the  field  !" 

By  some  ill-advised  calculation  Sunday  was  fixed 
upon  for  the  assault.  Sunday  attacks  are  seldom 
successful.  This  was  no  exception. 

At  3  oclock,  A.  M.,  Sunday,  June  14, 1863,  the  regi 
ments  moved  to  take  the  places  assigned  them  for  the 
bloody  drama.  Some  of  them  lost  their  way  in  the 
dark  maze  of  woods  and  lanes.  The  Thirteenth 
groped  to  the  left  till  it  reached  the  Jackson  road, 
where  we  awaited  the  rest  of  the  Third  Brigade,  Gro- 
ver's  Division.  We  were  to  be  the  right  of  the  brigade 
line.  The  brigade  of  Colonel  Holcomb  was  in  front. 
We  were  to  act  as  a  reserve.  Some  regiments  were 
late  in  reaching  the  posts  assigned.  The  Twelfth 
Connecticut  was  detained  more  than  an  hour  through 
the  ignorance  of  a  staff  officer  who  undertook  to  con 
duct  them.  The  Ninety-first  New  York  carried  hand- 
grenades.  The  Twenty-fourth  Connecticut,  each  man 
carrying  two  gunny-bags  filled  with  cotton,  followed 
the  Twelfth  Connecticut.  The  latter  were  deployed 
as  skirmishers  to  the  left ;  the  Seventy-fifth  New  York, 
to  the  right.  As  we  lay  next  the  road  waiting  for  or 
ders  we  got  a  little  hot  coffee. 

It  was  intended  that  the  assault  should  be  simulta 
neous  on  several  points,  and  should  be  a  surprise. 
The  favorable  moment,  of  course,  would  be  the  first 
dawn  of  day.  But  before  this,  the  deafening  roar  of 
cannon  far  and  near,  and  the  hiss  of  shot  tearing 
through  the  trees,  told  us  that  the  enemy  compre 
hended  the  movement. 


149 

At  daylight  the  Thirteenth  passed  into  the  road  and 
marched  across  the  bridge  up  to  a  sort  of  plateau 
swept  by  the  enemy's  guns.     We  were  halted  there 
and  ordered  to  lie  down.     As  we  lay  there,  a  large 
number  of  wounded  were  brought  past  us,  and  a  hos 
pital  was  hastily  established  on  the  slope.     The  pres 
ence  of  the  groaning  sufferers,  and  the  rather  rough 
performances  of  the  surgeons,  were  not  calculated  to 
whet  the  appetite  for  battle.    We  looked  on  in  silence. 
It  is  impossible  to  convey  in  words  any  adequate 
idea  of  the   difficulties,  natural  and  artificial,  pre 
sented  by  the  ground  between  us  and  the  enemy. 
There  were  forty  or  fifty  rods  of  standing  timber,  and 
then  many  precipitous,  crooked  ravines,  filled  with  a 
tangled  mass  of  felled  trees,  vines  and  brambles ;  and 
the  level  ground  was  scarcely  less  obstructed  ;  all  be 
ing  in  clear  view  and  point-blank  range  of  the  enemy's 
works,  from  which  arose  incessant  puffs  of  smoke,  as 
their  men   fired   from  safe  cover.     A  winding  path, 
three  or  four  feet  wide,  occasionally  protected  by  logs, 
sand-bags  and  earth,  had  been  dug  and  cut  from  the 
edge  of  the  woods  thirty  or  forty  rods  along  the  gul 
lies  towards  the  rebel  works,  but  even  this  was  expos 
ed  in  part  to  a  hostile  fire,  and  terminated  abruptly 
many   rods   from  the   fortifications.     Such  was  the 
ground  in  front  of  the  Federal  center. 

Nothing  looks  so  formidable  to  an  enemy  as  even 
and  steady  lines  of  infantry,  in  successive  waves  ad 
vancing  with  unbroken  front  and  covering  the  ground 
from  right  to  left.  This  was  the  formation  in  which 
we  had  been  so  successful  at  Labadieville,  Irish  Bend 
and  Vermilion  Bayou  ;  but  it  was  utterly  impractica- 


150 

ble  here.  There  could  be  no  swift  deployment ;  no 
regular  nor  rapid  advance,  if  deployed. 

At  sunrise  the  Thirteenth  was  slowly  pressing  its 
way  by  the  right  flank  between  stragglers,  wounded 
men,  trees  and  stretchers,  to  the  entrance  of  the  nar 
row  path  above  described.  The  place  should  have 
been  surprised ;  but  the  different  onsets  were  not 
well-timed.  The  hand-grenades,  from  which  so  much 
had  been  expected,  proved  a  failure ;  some  were 
thrown  too  soon,  others  did  not  explode ;  some  .were 
picked  up  inside  and  hurled  back  at  the  besiegers.  A 
few  did  their  work,  and  killed  several  rebels.  The  head 
of  the  column  staggered,  and  finally  melted  away,  un 
der  the  fire  from  the  fortifications.  Owing  to  the  ob 
structions  on  the  ground,  the  supports  which  were 
ordered  up  arrived  too  late,  and  each  successive  body 
of  troops  had  to  sustain  the  whole  weight  of  the  rebel 
fire. 

The  Thirteenth  reached  the  edge  of  the  wood,  be 
tween  which  and  the  enemy  lay  the  mass  of  felled 
timber.  Two  or  three  rods  from  the  narrow  channel 
which  formed  the  only  practicable  entrance  to  the 
irregular  ground  in  front,  sat  General  Weitzel  on  a 
fallen  tree.  There  was  a  few  minutes'  halt.  The 
onward  movements  of  the  regiments  in  front  ceased. 
A  report  was  just  circulating  that  our  troops  had 
effected  a  lodgment  inside.  The  writer  asked  Weitzel 
if  it  were  true.  He  answered  with  a  despondent  look, 
"No.  We've  not  got  a  foothold  inside,"  "Why 
can't  we  go  in  at  once  ?"  asked  the  writer.  "  We  can 
go  in,"  he  replied,  "  if  the  officers  and  men  will  only 
do  their  duty."  "  Have  the  enemy  massed  their  troops 
at  this  point  ? "  "  1  don't  think  they  have,"  he  repli- 


151 

ed  ;  "  and  if  they  have,  we've  got  more  men  right  in 
here  between  us  and  the  works  than  their  whole  gar 
rison."  In  this  the  General  was  much  mistaken,  but 
he  probably  said  it  for  effect  upon  the  listeners.  An 
aid  from  General  Banks  now  came  up,  breathless 
with  haste.  "  General,"  said  he,  "  General  Banks 
orders  that  you  force  an  entrance  at  once  into  the 
rebel  works  at  all  hazards."  Yes,"  replied  Weitzel ; 
and  then,  to  a  staff  officer,  "  Give  my  compliments  to 
Colonel  Holcomb,  and  tell  him  to  go  in  immediately." 
His  cool,  yet  unsatisfied  and  discouraged  air,  aston 
ished  some  of  us,  who  looked  for  an  impetuous  charge 
by  the  favorite  young  general.  We  had  unbounded 
confidence  in  him,  and  would  have  followed  him  any 
where.  But  Weitzel  was  an  engineer,  and  engineers 
are  slow.  He  did  not  favor  bloody  and  hazardous 
assaults,  either  at  Port  Hudson  or  at  Fort  Fisher.  He 
had  no  faith  in  storming  columns.  It  was  currently 
reported  that  he  said  to  General  Banks,  "I  can  take 
Port  Hudson  without  losing  a  man ;  and  I  should  con 
sider  such  a  victory  as  evidencing  higher  generalship 
than  to  carry  the  place  by  storm  and  lose  a  thousand 
men."  We  left  Weitzel  sitting  on  his  log,  with  the 
shot  flying  over  his  head,  and  we  pressed  forward  to 
support  Holcomb. 

The  narrow  path,  in  many  places  a  mere  ditch,  was 
obstructed  by  dead  and  wounded,  by  men  carrying 
stretchers,  and  by  stragglers  making  their  way  to  the 
rear.  Every  available  cover  behind  stumps,  logs  or 
earth,  every  little  depression  of  the  ground  that  could 
shelter  from  the  enemy's  fire,  was  occupied.  Hand- 
grenades  were  scattered  along  the  path  ;  also  muskets, 
bayonets,  cartridge-boxes  and  belts,  gunny-bags  filled 


152 

with  cotton,  and  here  and  there  pools  of  blood.  We 
crowded  along  by  the  flank  in  four  or  two  ranks,  or 
in  single  file,  towards  the  indescribable  din.  The  van 
of  the  Thirteenth  issued  from  the  dry  ditch  into  the 
open  space,  and  the  regiment  caught  a  glimpse  of 
Colonel  Holcomb,  who  had  just  received  Banks' s  last 
order  through  Weitzel,  and  had  commenced  a  brief 
speech  to  his  men.  "  There's  Colonel  Holcomb !" 
shouted  a  score  of  voices,  and  a  cheer,  long  and  loud, 
rose  from  the  Thirteenth  Connecticut  as  they  recog 
nized  their  old  major.  They  rushed  forward  at  the 
instant  on  the  sloping  broken  ground,  to  where  Hol 
comb  was  haranguing  his  men.  The  fire  from  the 
breastworks  perceptibly  slackened  at  the  voice  of  the 
regiment,  and  the  writer  saw  a  few  rebels  turn  and 
run  from  the  parapet.  But  the  blaze  of  musketry  was 
soon  re-kindled,  fierce  as  ever.  An  unsteady  mass  of 
men  of  different  regiments,  a  mob  rather  than  an 
army,  the  various  commands  seeming  blended,  some 
enthusiastic  and  eager,  but  most  of  them  evidently 
disheartened  and  shrugging  their  shoulders,  were  list 
ening  to  his  fiery  emphasis  His  speech  was  like  the 
growl  and  roar  of  a  lion  ;  upbraiding  some,  threaten 
ing  some,  encouraging  others  ;  and  concluding  with, 
"  All  I  ask  of  you  is  to  follow  me  !  Will  you  follow 
me  ? "  "  Yes  !  Yes  ! "  shouted  fifty  voices  ;  but  far 
more  were  silent.  The  majority  sat  sullen  and  cowed. 
Not  satisfied  with  the  response,  he  turned  to  the  Thir 
teenth  Connecticut,  about  half  of  whom  had  now  ar 
rived,  and  he  exclaimed,  "  There's  the  glorious  old 
Thirteenth  Connecticut !  I  know  they'll  follow  me  ! 
Thirteenth,  I'll  lead  you  !"  Glancing  round  and  see 
ing  nothing  of  the  senior  captain,  the  writer,  being 


153 

next  in  rank,  answered  in  a  loud  voice,  "  The  Thir 
teenth  Connecticut  will  follow  Colonel  Holcomb  any 
where."  A  rousing  cheer  sanctioned  the  promise. 
The  following,  from  the  writer's  diary,  was  written 
next  day  : 

"After  urging  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  other  regi 
ments,  all  of  whom  were  huddled  together  in  the  nar 
row  hollow,  or  piled  behind  logs  and  stumps,  he  [Hol 
comb]  called  on  the  Thirteenth  to  follow  him.  Our 
regiment  at  this  moment  was  somewhat  broken  and 
scattered,  and  the  companies  were  partly  mixed  with 
those  of  other  regiments.  Some  of  our  best  compa 
nies  on  the  right  were  separated  from  us :  the  broken 
ground  and  mass  of  logs  in  the  gullies  and  on  the  hill 
side,  near  the  top  of  which  Colonel  Holcomb  and  other 
officers  stood,  prevented  anything  like  a  regimental 
front.  My  immediate  attention  was,  of  course,  given 
to  my  own  company,  which  had  kept  together  admi 
rably,  one  sergeant  and  three  privates  only  having  be 
come  separated  from  the  rest  and  left  behind  in  the 
melee.  Not  seeing  our  regimental  commander,  who 
was  supposed  to  be  on  the  right,  and  who,  we  thought, 
had  perhaps  fallen,  I  asked  Colonel  Holcomb  to  delay 
the  charge  a  moment,  until  I  could  get  the  left  wing 
into  position  to  make  a  united  movement.  He  as 
sented.  I  immediately  commenced  moving  my  own 
and  the  other  companies  obliquely  to  the  left  and 
front,  to  give  breadth  to  our  advance  and  secure  some 
thing  like  a  line  of  battle  ;  meanwhile  endeavoring  to 
encourage  the  men  by  exhortation  and  example.  I 
tried  to  bring  the  men,  every  man,  as  far  to  the  front 
as  possible,  before  starting,  without  exposing  them  too 
much  ;  in  order  that,  at  the  word,  each  might  have 
14 


154 

the  least  practicable  distance  to  pass  while  making  a 
simultaneous  spring  on  the  rebels.  But  before  these 
arrangements  had  been  completed,  and  almost  before 
they  had  begun,  Col.  Holcomb,  swinging  his  sword, 
gave  the  command,  "  Forward  /"  The  Thirteenth 
leaped  to  the  front,  mixed  with  the  troops  of  Holcomb's 
brigade.  The  impassable  portions  of  the  ground  in 
stantly  destroyed  the  unity  of  the  advance.  The  right 
of  the  regiment  was  upon  and  beyond  the  bluff;  the 
center,  near  Holcomb,  but  moving  diagonally  to  the 
left  with  infinite  difficulty.  The  portion  of  troops 
nearest  Holcomb,  not  having  so  much  rough  ground 
to  pass  over,  got  in  advance  of  the  others,  and  became 
instantly  exposed  to  the  hottest  fire.  For  the  most 
part  they  were  shot  down  at  once.  Colonel  Holcomb 
dropped  dead  :  Lieutenant  Strickland  fell  near  him, 
each  pierced  through  the  head  by  a  musket  ball. 
Captain  Grosvenor  received  a  bullet  through  the  arm. 
Acting  Adjutant  Gardner,  of  the  Thirteenth,  was 
wounded  in  the  throat.  Colonel  Gerard,  Twenty- 
second  Maine,  Colonel  Morgan,  Ninetieth  New-York, 
each  commanding  a  brigade ;  Colonel  Hubbard, 
Twenty-sixth  Maine,  Major  Burt,  One  hundred  fifty- 
ninth  New- York,  and  some  other  field  officers,  were 
present ;  but  no  one  took  the  place  of  Colonel  Hol 
comb,  who  alone  of  the  field  officers  seemed  to  do 
anything  effective,  or  have  any  heart  or  faith  in  the 
movement.  The  left  wing,  still  struggling  forward, 
now  got  in  advance  of  the  right  and  of  the  troops 
massed  about  Colonel  Holcomb,  who  were  fast  falling, 
when  private  Blake  of  my  company  came  running  to 
me,  and  exclaimed,  "  Captain,  Col.  Holcomb  is  kill 
ed  !"  "  Get  back  to  your  place,  sir,"  I  replied ;  It's 


155 

no  such  thing  ! "     "  But  Captain,  he  certainly  is  kill 
ed  !     See,  here  are  his  brains  all  scattered  over  my 
coat ! "     A  glance  confirmed  the  terrible  fact ;  but  we 
hoped  still  to  reach  and  scale  the  parapet,  and  I  in 
stantly,  repeated,   "  Get  back  to  your  place  in  the 
ranks,   sir.      Forward !  men.     Forward ! "     But   the 
troops  on  the  right  had  almost  vanished.     All  were 
thrown  into  confusion  by  the  unforeseen  obstacles, 
trees,  gullies,  logs  ;  yet  we  still  pressed  obliquely  for 
ward  towards  the  enemy's  works,  a  goodly  number 
from  other  regiments  being  mixed  in  with  and  follow 
ing  the  Thirteenth.     We  reached  a  ravine  not  previ 
ously  known,  almost  under  the  breastwork,  and  nearly 
parallel.     Into  this  ravine  we  poured  pell-mell.     It 
arrested  our  progress.     Most  fortunate  for  us  was  the 
shelter  it  afforded ;  for  we  had  not  men  enough  with 
us  to  maintain  ourselves  long,  had  'we  reached   the 
inside    of   the   works.      An    increasing    tempest    of 
every  species  of  shot  and  shell  now  tore  the  broken 
plateau,  over  which  we  had  charged,  and  no  supports 
could  reach  us.     Colonel  Holcomb  having  fallen,  and 
almost   the    whole    of  the   advancing  column  being 
thrown  into  confusion  by  the  well-nigh  insuperable 
obstacles,  and  most  of  the  storming  party  greatly  re 
tarded   by   logs,  bushes,  briers,   and  gullies,  and  the 
leader  of  the  movement  killed,  the  assault  failed.    The 
right  of  my  company  was  within  a  few  feet  of  Colonel 
Holcomb  when  he  fell ;  privates  Blackmail,  Johnson, 
Blake,  and  sergeant  Adams  being  almost  within  touch 
ing  distance  of  him." 

Whoever  came  up  to  this  point  was  obliged  to  run 
the  gauntlet  of  the  enemy's  fire  ;  but  under  the  urgent 
orders  of  General  Banks,  when  we  had  partly  silenced 


156 

the  rebel  guns,  from  five  hundred  to  a  thousand  had 
been  pushed  forward  to  it  before  ten  o'clock,  A.  M. 
We  lay  within  thirty  yards  of  the  breastwork. 

We  immediately  commenced  re-forming  our  com 
panies,  and  separating  the  Thirteenth  from  the  frag 
ments  of  other  commands.  A  rebel  redoubt,  known 
as  The  Priest's  Cap,  projected  from  the  parapet  just 
on  our  right.  The  fire  from  a  salient  angle  of  it 
proving  very  troublesome,  the  writer  sent  Company 
E  under  Lieut.  Beaton  to  take  post  behind  a  large  log 
on  a  knoll,  and  silence  the  enemy's  sharp-shooters. 
Hardly  had  they  got  into  position,  when  Capt.  Corn- 
stock,  who  now  arrived  on  the  spot,  ordered  their  re 
call;  alleging  that  they  were  too  much  exposed. 
About  the  same  time  Colonels  Gerard,  Hubbard,  Mor 
gan  and  Putnam,  and  Major  Burt  arrived.  Captain 
De  Forest  came  up,  an  accomplished  officer  of  the 
Twelfth  Connecticut,  who  richly  deserved  a  brigadier 
general's  shoulder-straps,  but  was  both  too  modest  to 
urge  his  claims  and  too  honest  to  pull  the  wires  and 
bribe  the  politico-military  authorities.  Captain  Fuller 
of  the  Thirteenth  now  came,  bringing  the  edifying  in 
telligence  that  he  had  just  seen  and  examined  the 
dead  body  of  the  writer  of  this  history  ! 

The  sunshine  was  now  burning  like  fire.  We  suf 
fered  greatly  from  thirst.  A  peremptory  order  came 
from  Banks  to  the  senior  officer  of  the  troops  at  this 
point  to  enter  the  works  at  all  hazards.  Again  and 
again  similar  orders  came. 

"  Those  behind  cried  Forward, 
But  those  before  said  Back  /" 

Col.  Hubbard  expressed  a  readiness  to  follow,  but 
not  to  lead.  He  considered  it  "  a  perfect  slaughter 


157 

pen."  Major  Burt  offered  to  follow  with  a  portion  of 
the  One  hundred  fifty-ninth  New  York,  but  did  not 
believe  we  could  hold  the  ground,  if  we  took  it.  Col. 
Gerard  said,  "  If  General  Banks  wants  to  go  in  there, 

let  him  go  in  and  be  d !  I  wont  slaughter  my 

men  in  that  way."  Col.  Morgan  said,  "  If  General 
Banks  or  any  staff  officer  will  examine  this  ground, 
and  then  say  we  ought  to  make  the  assault,  I'll  make 
it.  Tell  General  Banks  I've  sent  for  an  engineer  to 
examine  the  position."  Col.  Hubbard  asked  :  "  Col. 
Gerard,  If  I'll  lead  with  my  brigade,  will  you  follow 
and  support  me  ?"  He  answered  in  the  affirmative. 
But  Col.  Hubbard  did  not  lead.  Capt.  Comstock 
said  he  was  ready  to  follow  with  the  Thirteenth  Con 
necticut,  but  thought  it  nonsense  to  undertake  it. 
Col.  Day  of  the  One  hundred  thirty-first  New  York, 
came  up  with  his  coat  off.  Said  he,  "  I  started  out 

this  morning  with  the  determination  to  be  a  h of 

a  fellolv  !  I've  been  a  h of  a  fellow  long  enough. 

If  anybody  else  wants  to  be  a  h of  a  fellow,  I've 

no  objections  !  But  it's  too  d risky  ! "  Cols. 

Gerard  and  Morgan  were  soon  afterwards  dishonor 
ably  dismissed  for  disobedience  of  orders. 

So  the  assault  was  not  renewed.  Meanwhile  the 
lead  and  iron  rained  around  us,  and  the  accuracy  of 
the  shots  was  truly  astonishing.  Some  of  our  men 
wpre  hit  lying  in  the  very  bottom  of  the  gully,  as  if 
the  balls  dropped  from  the  sky  ! 

Repeated  orders  to  renew  the  assault  on  the  works 
in  our  front,  which  General  Banks  seemed  to  consider 
the  key  to  the  town,  having  been  disregarded,  he  sent 
Lieut.  Francis,  former  Adjutant  of  Wilson's  Zouaves, 
with  a  request  for  the  formation  of  a  storming  column 
14* 


158 

of  two  hundred  men  to  lead  the  attack,  promising 
promotion  to  every  officer  and  man  who  should  volun 
teer.  Col.  Hubbard  promulgated  the  order.  Lieut. 
Beaton,  of  Co.  E,  Thirteenth  Conn.,  was  the  first  officer 
to  volunteer.  Private  Blackman,  of  Co.  H,  Thirteenth 
Conn.,  was  the  first  enlisted  man.  An  officer  of  the 
One  hundred  fifty-ninth  New  York  came  forward,  and 
said  he  had  twenty  men  who  would  follow  him  in. 
Capt.  Sprague  notified  Col.  Hubbard  and  his  company 
that  he  would  be  one  of  the  number.  Volunteers 
were  fast  coming  forward,  and  the  two  hundred  would 
soon  have  been  obtained.  Meanwhile  a  sort  of  coun 
cil  of  war  was  held  among  the  regimental  comman 
ders,  every  one  of  whom  opposed  the  scheme.  Capt. 
Comstock  well  expressed  the  prevailing  views  by  say 
ing,  "  I  think,  if  we're  going  in  at  all,  we  ought  to  go 
in  by  regiments  under  the  senior  officer ;  and  this 
talk  of  a  storming  column  of  two  hundred  men  is  all 
boys'  play."  In  the  midst  of  this  discussioif,  and 
when  the  requisite  number  had  been  nearly  made  up, 
an  aid  of  General  Banks  came  in  haste,  counter 
manding  the  order ;  assigning  as  a  reason,  "  Two 
heavy  lines  of  rebel  infantry  have  been  discovered, 
lying  back  a  little  distance  inside  the  works,  at  this 
point." 

On  the  summit  of  a  hillock  in  rear  of  our  right 
wing,  and  near  the  spot  where  Col.  Holcomb  fell,  was 
a  little  breast-work  of  cotton-bags,  which  some  of  our 
union  soldiers  had  rolled  before  them  as  a  protection 
against  rebel  bullets.  Behind  these,  some  half-a-dozen 
brave  men  kept  firing  on  the  enemy.  One  by  one 
they  were  struck  by  the  shot,  which  constantly  knock 
ed  up  the  dust  around  them.  For  a  long  time  this 


159 

continued,  until  the  cotton  took  fire,  either  from  a 
shell  or  from  their  own  muskets.  As  it  burned  we 
saw  it  apparently  consume  the  clothing  and  the  bodies 
of  the  dead  and  dying.  As  it  reached  their  cartridge- 
boxes,  we  saw  the  quick  explosions  of  ammunition. 
Here  and  there  in  sight  lay  some  of  our  soldiers  be 
hind  stumps,  the  perpetual  target  of  the  rebel  rifle 
men.  One  soldier  in  particular  lay  on  his  back,  per 
fectly  straight  and  motionless  behind  a  little  stump ; 
but,  about  once  every  half-hour  he  would  cautiously 
turn  over,  aim,  fire,  and  re-load  !  We  could  not  go 
to  their  assistance,  nor  could  they  stir  from  their 
perilous  position. 

Of  all  that  fell  on  this  fourteenth  of  June,  no  one 
was  more  sincerely  lamented  than  Charlie  Merwin, 
drummer  of  Co.  A ;  a  handsome  boy  of  seventeen 
years,  brave,  amiable,  patriotic,  a  favorite  with  all. 
Before  light  he  had  voluntarily  gone  to  the  bloody 
front,  to  assist  in  carrying  oiF  the  wounded.  At  eleven 
in  the  morning,  while  carrying  a  wounded  man  on  a 
stretcher,  to  get  him  out  of  the  reach  of  bullets,  a 
rifle  ball  shattered  his  leg.  It  was  amputated  on  the 
field.  He  was  taken  to  New  Orleans.  A  second  and 
a  third  amputation  became  necessary,  and  he  sank  un 
der  the  terrible  suffering. 

The  day  passed  slowly — a  long,  exciting,  mournful 
day.  The  fierce  sun  above  us,  we  were  tormented  by 
thirst.  We  were  faint  with  hunger.  Every  heart 
was  sad  at  the  loss  of  comrades.  But  we  kept  the 
enemy  on  the  qui  vive.  Cos.  A  and  B  were  stationed 
on  the  brow  of  the  ravine,  just  below  the  rebel  line  of 
fire.  Here  they  acted  as  sharp-shooters.  Not  the 
smallest  part  of  an  enemy  could  be  exposed  without 


160 

receiving  a  volley  of  bullets.  At  dusk  Cos.  C,  I,  H 
and  K  relieved  them,  and  crawled  up  to  within  two  or 
three  rods  of  the  parapet. 

At  ten  o'clock  at  night  a  staff  officer  crept  up  to 
our  position,  and  whispered  to  us  that  the  enemy  were 
supposed  to  be  massing  on  the  right,  to  cut  their  way 
out,  and  that  the  Thirteenth  was  to  move  back  in 
silence  to  the  position  of  the  preceding  night,  and  hold 
itself  in  readiness  to  assist  in  repelling  them.  This 
change  was  noiselessly  executed.  No  sortie  was  made. 
Next  morning  saw  us  in  our  old  position  under  the 
two  batteries. 

Such  was  the  action  of  the  Thirteenth  Connecticut 
in  the  combined  assault  on  Port  Hudson,  June  14, 
1863.  Surely,  it  was  by  no  fault  of  ours  that  it  did 
not  succeed.  We  had  done  all  that  was  required  of 
us,  and  more.  We  had  been  ordered  to  act  as  a 
reserve ;  but  by  the  sheer  force  of  enthusiasm  and 
without  positive  orders,  the  Thirteenth  rose  equal  to 
the  emergency  and  worked  their  way  up  to  the  "  fore 
front  of  the  hottest  battle." 

And  now  came  the  fearfully  depressing  realization 
that  all  these  efforts,  all  this  heroism,  and  all  this  ap 
palling  carnage,  had  failed.  Yonder  still  floated  the 
rebel  flag.  Their  batteries  still  dammed  the  great 
river.  From  their  bands  inside,  we  could  hear  their 
jubilant  secession  music.  We  were  defeated !  With 
bitter  anguish  we  thought  of  this,  and  then  of  the  un 
availing  slaughter  of  our  near  and  dear  friends.  Two 
thousand  men,  young,  gallant,  brave,  the  flower  of  our 
army,  had  fallen.  In  the  gloomy  hospital,  or  still  un 
der  the  rebel  fire  on  the  scorched  field,  they  were 


161 

sleeping  their  last  sleep  or  writhing  in  agony  !  And 
all  in  vain ! 

No,  not  in  vain  !  For  home,  country,  honor,  free 
dom,  civilization,  they  had  indeed  poured  ont  their 
blood  like  water.  On  our  right  lay  the  bleeding  form 
of  Col.  Paine.  Besprinkling  the  garments  of  our  sol 
diers  were  the  brains  of  the  gifted  Holcomb.  The 
thirsty  earth  drank  the  life-blood  of  our  loved  Strick 
land,  and  McManus,  and  Carey,  and  Cramm,  and 
Burns,  and  Merwin  ;  and  how  many  more  !  In  the 
dense  thicket,  in  the  deep  gully,  in  the  tangled  ra 
vine,  in  the  open  field,  on  the  hostile  ramparts,  wher 
ever  the  mimic  lightning  blazed,  or  the  hissing  bolt 
flew,  or  the  huge  shell  thundered  in  showers  of  death, 
they  cheerfully  gave  their  lives.  Many  a  heroic  deed 
of  that  eventful  day  will  forever  remain  untold. 
Many  a  manly  form  sleeps  in  an  unknown  grave  be 
neath  those  crimsoned  battlements.  But,  thank  God ! 
each  patriot  name,  each  self-sacrificing  soul,  forgotten 
here,  yet  "  liveth  evermore !"  And,  long  as  the 
Mississippi  shall  roll  its  mighty  volume  to  the  sea,  the 
memory  of  Port  Hudson  shall  kindle  the  loftiest  emo 
tions  of  every  lover  of  the  human  race. 

June  15,  we  rested. 

Capt.  Blinn,  who  had  been  two  months  separated 
from  us  by  sickness,  in  New-Orleans,  now  re-joined  us. 

June  16  was  memorable  for  the  publication  of  the 
famous  order  of  General  Banks,  calling  for  the  forma 
tion  of  a  "  storming  column  of  one  thousand  men  ;" 
and  memorable,  too,  for  the  ready  response  which  the 
Thirteenth  Connecticut  gave.  No  truer,  sharper  test 
of  the  spirit  of  the  army  could  have  been  devised. 

In  the  Union  ranks  all  was  gloom.     The  very  sun 


162 

seemed  to  shine  in  mockery.  Three  weeks  previously 
Gen.  Banks  had  issued  a  flaming  order,  concluding 
with  the  high-sounding  promise  that  in  three  days 
the  Union  flag  should  float  from  the  rebel  bulwarks  ! 
But  the  determined  onset  of  May  24,  and  the  great 
struggle  of  May  27,  had  both  met  a  bloody  repulse. 
The  incessant  snapshooting  by  day  and  shelling  by 
night  had  not  lessened  the  energy  of  the  besieged. 
The  midnight  assault,  June  10,  had  been  terribly  dis 
astrous.  The  furious  bombardment  of  June  13,  had 
been  as  furiously  defied.  And  the  fourteenth  of  June  ! 
Its  smoke  had  hardly  cleared  away.  Its  hundreds  of 
corpses  were  still  blackening  in  the  sun.  The  groans 
of  its  wounded  were  yet  heard  on  every  side.  The 
heart  sickened  at  the  horrors  of  that  day,  and  its  great 
catalogue  of  victims.  The  long-continued,  elaborate 
preparations,  and  the  prodigious  slaughter,  seemed 
useless.  The  belief  became  almost  universal  that 
only  by  the  slow  process  of  starving  out  the  garrison 
could  we  capture  the  stronghold.  The  army  had  seen 
enough  of  assaults  and  of  storming  columns. 

But  could  we  spare  the  time  ?  Was  there  not 
danger  that  the  "bold  and  skillful  Johnson,  hovering  in 
rear  of  Grant's  besieging  army  at  Vicksburgh,  would 
suddenly  strike  a  blow  at  us  and  raise  the  siege  of 
Port  Hudson  ? 

The  Thirteenth  Connecticut  believed  itself  almost 
invincible.  We  felt  that  a  swift  onset  by  a  few  hund 
red  men,  every  one  of  whom  knew  how  to  die  but  not 
how  to  retreat  or  surrender,  would  surely  effect  a 
lodgment  inside ;  and  we  believed  there  were  brave 
men  enough  who  would  spring  to  their  support,  if 
properly  handled,  and  give  us  Port  Hudson  in  two 
hours. 


163 

Such  were  the  reasonings  of  the  officers  and  men  of 
the  Thirteenth  when  the  inspiring  call  of  Gen.  Banks, 
always  more  potent  in  rhetoric  than  in  arms,  rang  out 
like  a  trumpet.  "  To  the  bold  men  "  of  the  army  and 
navy,  thirty  thousand  strong  who,  for  weeks  had  fixed 
their  eyes  on  the  frowning  battlements  with  a  deter 
mination  to  plant  there  the  flag  of  liberty,  he  appealed 
with  singular  eloquence  and  power.  He  promised 
a  medal  of  honor  to  every  soldier  and  promotion  to 
every  officer,  who  should  volunteer  to  form  a  "  Storm 
ing  Column  of  One  Thousand  Men  "  and  lead  the 
final  charge.  The  Thirteenth  neither  asked  nor  cared 
for  these  rewards,  nor  ever  murmured  because  the 
promises  so  lavishly  made  were  never  kept.  A  few  of 
us  were  brevetted  in  the  summer  of  1866  for  gallantry 
at  Port  Hudson  in  the  summer  of  1863. 

The  different  companies  were  called  up  and  the 
order  (General  Order  No.  49,  Headquarters,  Depart 
ment  of  the  Gulf,)  was  read  to  them.  Volunteering 
immediately  commenced.  Three  days  alter  its  publi 
cation  one  hundred  and  fifty  men  of  the  Thirteenth 
Connecticut  had  volunteered.  When  it  became 
known  that  our  old  Colonel,  Birge,  was  to  lead  them, 
there  were  many  other  accessions.  In  three  weeks, 
sixteen  officers  and  two  hundred  and  twenty-five  en 
listed  men  of  the  Thirteenth  had  joined  this  forlorn 
hope  !  This  comprised  more  than  half  of  those  who 
were  present  for  duty.  No  other  regiment,  nor  even 
any  other  whole  brigade  furnished  so  many  men  for 
the  enterprise  as  the  Thirteenth  Connecticut  alone. 
The  nearest  approach  to  this  was  made  by  the  two 
colored  regiments,  which  together  gave  two  hundred 
men.  The  Twenty-fifth  Connecticut,  never  lacking  in 


"  164 

patriotism  or  courage,  sent  but  one  officer  and  three 
enlisted  men  ;  whose  names  were  several  times  pub 
lished,  as  evincing  remarkable  patriotism,  in  the 
Annual  Report  of  the  Adjutant-General  of  the  State 
of  Connecticut.  Of  the  companies  in  the  Thirteenth, 
G  did  the  best,  nearly  every  man  present  for  duty 
having  volunteered.  This  was  due  in  part  to  the 
active  exertions  of  first-sergeant  Charles  B.  Hutchins, 
afterwards  lieutenant  in  the  Corps  d'Afrique.  Among 
the  non-combatants  who  volunteered  for  this  perilous 
work  was  Hospital  Steward  William  Bishop,  Thir 
teenth  Connecticut,  as  brave  a  man  as  ever  faced 
death  in  battle. 

It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  all  were  actuated  by 
patriotism  alone.  Possibly  none  were  entirely  free 
from  selfish  promptings.  Some  were  ambitious  of 
distinction  ;  others  maty  have  believed  they  could  not 
honorably  refuse.  Some  perhaps  were  quite  unaware 
of  the  fearful  risk.  A  few  may  have  been  weary  of 
life.  A  few  too  were  suspected  of  designing  to  recede 
at  the  last  moment,  on  some  pretence  ;  meanwhile, 
and  perhaps  always,  enjoying  the  reputation  of  being 
brave,  patriotic  men. 

But  the  majority  knew  the  situation,  reverenced  the 
call  of  their  country,  and  freely  offered  to  sacrifice  on 
her  altar  even  life  itself.  It  was  the  fruit  of  no  sud 
den  impulse,  no  thoughtless  folly,  no  reckless  desper 
ation.  Calmly  and  widely  they  surveyed  the  field  of 
danger  and  of  duty,  weighed  the  considerations,  cal 
culated  the  contingencies,  and  prepared  for  either 
fate, — to  share  the  reward  of  the  victorious  brave,  or 
die  like  the  nameless  three  hundred  at  Thermopylae. 

The  author  of  this  history  wrote  out  the  last  will 


165 


and  testament  of  some  of  these  men ;  witnessed  the 
transfer  of  money,  watches,  jewelry,  and  keepsakes  to 
their  comrades  who  were  to  remain  behind  ;  and  wrote 
letters  giving  what  they  feared  were  their  last  mes 
sages  to  the  loved  ones  at  home.  From  an  officer's 
diary  is  extracted  the  following  memorandum,  dated 
June  16,  1863,  just  after  he  had  volunteered  in  the 
storming  column  :  "  I  have  in  my  possession  about 
two  hundred  and  twenty  dollars  in  Treasury  Notes, 
of  which,  in  case  of  my  death,  I  wish  to  have  two 
hundred  sent  to  my  wife,  ******* 
*  *  *  *  *  *  For  bar  sake  I  wish  my  remains  to 
be  sent,  sooner  or  later,  *  *  *  *  for  interment. 
Dr.  Clary  or  Chaplain  Upson  is  requested  to  see  to 
the  execution  of  the  foregoing." 

June  19,  the  Thirteenth  moved  circuitously  to  new 
ground  two  miles  to  the  right,  and  within  about  a 
mile  of  the  negro  brigade.  Here  those  who  were  not 
of  the  storming  party  remained  till  the  surrender. 
Volunteering  for  this  forlorn  hope  was  still  going  on. 

June  25,  Lieutenant  Kinney  and  another  officer 
prepared  a  petition  to  General  Banks  as  follows  : 

"  Thirteenth  Regiment,  Conn.,  Vols.,    } 
Before  Port  Hudson, 

June  25,  1863.  ) 
GENERAL : 

The  undersigned,  comprising  all  the  officers  of  the 
above-named  regiment,  present  for  duty,  having  volun 
teered  as  members  of  the  Storming  Party  called  for 
by  General  Orders,  No.  49,  Headquarters,  Department 
of  the  Gulf,  beg  leave  respectfully  to  request  that  the 
intended  assault  may  not  be  made  on  a  Sunday." 
Two  captains  and  one  lieutenant  refused  to  sign  it. 
15 


166 

June  26,  the  storming  column  marched  to  the 
ground  designated  for  its  camp.  The  place  was  half 
a  mile  from  the  camp  of  the  Thirteenth.  It  was  sep 
arated  from  the  rest  of  the  army  and  organized  in 
two  battalions,  which  were  carefully  drilled,  instructed, 
and  held  in  readiness  to  move  at  five  minutes'  notice. 
Scaling  ladders  and  other  requisite  implements  were 
preparing. 

All  the  officers  present  having  volunteered  as  storm- 
ers,  except  the  sick,  it  became  necessary  to  appoint 
some  officer  to  the  command  of  those  not  included 
among  .the  stormers.  Captain  Comstock,  senior  offi 
cer  commanding,  accordingly  detailed  Captain  Sprague 
to  perform  that  duty,  who  appointed. Lieutenant  Kin- 
ney'  acting  adjutant.  Both  of  these  officers  were 
amongst  the  stormers,  and  declined  the  appointment 
until  assured  by  Colonel  Birge  that  whenever  the 
storming  column  moved,  they  should  join  it. 

By  request  of  the  enlisted  men,  non-stormers, 
Captain  Sprague  on  the  twenty-seventh  of  June  ob 
tained  from  Colonel  Birge  a  promise  that  the  remain 
der  of  the  regiment  should  follow  immediately  in  rear 
of  the  stormers,  as  their  first  support ;  a  position 
hardly  less  perilous  or  less  honorable  than  the  storm 
ing  column  itself.  This  showed  that  the  remnant  of 
the  regiment  had  no  intention  of  lagging  behind  in 
the  momentous  struggle.  So  the  whole  of  the  Thir 
teenth  was  virtually  in  the  assaulting  column. 

There  being  no  company  officers  present  for  duty 
with  the  non-stormers,  Captain  Sprague  consolidated 
these  temporarily  into  five  companies  under  the  com 
mand  of  sergeants.  The  same  day,  it  being  reported 
that  the  stormers  were  immediately  to  make  the 


167 

assault,  he  obtained  written  permission  from  Colonel 
Birge  for  himself  and  Lieutenant  Kinney  to  act  as  his 
staff  officers  in  the  expected  movement.  The  band  of 
the  Thirteenth  Connecticut  played  this  evening  at  the 
dress  parade  of  the  selected  storming  brigade.  It  be 
ing  again  rumored  that  the  enemy  were  intending  to 
cut  their  way  out  this  night,  the  regiment  slept  on 
their  arms. 

June  29,  sharpshooters  were  called  for,  under  the 
name  of  "  crack  shots,"  to  report  at  Grover's  Head 
quarters.  Captain  Sprague  sent  from  the  Thirteenth 
privates  Maloy,  Me  Williams,  Rice,  Adams,  Richmond, 
Austin,  Gardner,  Haight,  Peck  and  Mathews.  At 
four  o'clock,  we  "  fell  in  "  for  review  by  Gen.  Banks^ 
He  not  appearing,  we  broke  ranks,  and  again  "  fell 
in  "  at  six  o'clock.  Waiting  in  line  till  eight  o'clock, 
word  came  that  he  was  "  indisposed  ;"  but  would  re 
view  us  next  day  at  ten  o'clock.  Accordingly,  June 
30,  he  reviewed  and  addressed  the  stormers  and 
Birge's  brigade.  His  speech  was  remarkably  eloquent 
and  appropriate.  In  it  he  promised  us  we  should 
celebrate  the  coming  Fourth  of  July  inside  Port 
Hudson. 

Lieutenant  Beckwith  arrived  from  Hospital  and 
immediately  entered  the  storming  column.  Captain 
Sprague  mustered  the  Thirteenth  for  pay. 

July  2,  the  names  of  the  Thirteenth  officers  in  the 
forlorn  hope  were  taken  as  follows  : 

Field  and  Staff— Colonel  Henry  W.  Birge,  com 
manding  the  column. 

Company  A — Lieutenants  Charles  E.  Tibbets,  John 
C.  Kinney. 

Company  B — Captain  A.  Comstock,  Lieutenant 
Louis  Beckwith. 


168 

Company  C — Captain  C.  D.  Blinn,  Lieutenant  N. 
W.  Perkins. 

Company  D — Captain  C.  J.  Fuller,  Lieutenant 
Perry  Averill. 

Company  E — Lieutenant  Charles  S.  Beaton. 

Company  G — Captain  D.  H.  Finley. 

Company  H — Captain  Homer  B.  Sprague. 

Company  I — Lieutenants  Frank  Wells,  Louis  Meiss- 
ner. 

Company  K — Lieutenants  W.  F.  Norman,  Charles 
Daniels. 

This  day  was  signalized  by  the  capture  of  Spring 
field  Landing,  our  principal  base  of  supplies  on  the 
ffiver  a  few  miles  below  Port  Hudson.  A  guerilla 
party  held  the  place  an  hour,  cut  off  our  communica 
tions,  and  took  a  number  of  wagons.  The  wagoner 
of  Company  B,  "  Dutch  John,"  was  taken ;  but  had 
the  shrewdness  to  deceive  his  captors  by  pretending  to 
be  lame  !  Getting  permission  to  ride  a  mule,  he  rode 
away  at  the  first  corner  and  soon  rejoined  us  ! 

Sergeant  Brown,  Company  H,  seeing  privates 
Cashin  and  "  Big  Dugan  "  absent  without  leave,  dis 
guised  himself  as  a  guerilla,  captured  them  both,  and 
to  their  astonishment  marched  them  back  into  the 
camp  of  the  Thirteenth ! 

July  3,  we  received  orders  to  be  in  readiness  to< 
make  the  grand  attack  at  fifteen  minutes'  notice. 

July  4,  we  held  a  meeting  of  officers,  at  which  re 
solutions  were  drawn  up  by  the  writer  in  honor  of  the 
lamented  Strickland. 

At  noon  Farragut  fired  a  national  salute  with  shot 
ted  guns  into  the  rebel  works.  Quartermaster  Brom 
ley  was  sent  to  look  after  our  baggage  stored  at  Bayou 


169 

Boeuf  and  Brashear  City.  These  places  had  been 
captured  by  the  rebels. 

July  5,  and  no  assault  by  the  storming  column  ! 

Experienced  miners  were  now  called  for  by  General 
Grover.  We  sent  privates  Warner,  Wagner,  and 
Barnes. 

July  6,  a  large  force  of  the  enemy  was  reported  in 
our  rear.  The  non-stormers  of  the  Thirteenth  were 
moved  back  by  Captain  Sprague  a  mile  and  a  half 
near  the  Bayou  Sara  road,  to  repel  any  attack  from 
that  quarter.  It  rained  on  us  at  night,  but  we  had 
become  used  to  that.  No  hostile  demonstration  was 
made  against  us,  except  by  a  furious  and  most  bois 
terous  bull.  But  a  u  strong  bull  of  Bashan  "  is  no 
despicable  foe. 

July  7,  the  regiment  returned  to  camp.  The  order 
to  keep  on  hand  two  days'  cooked  rations  and  be  in 
readiness  to  move  at  fifteen  minutes  notice,  was  re 
voked  by  a  circular  from  General  Grover.  This  was 
in  consequence  of  the  glorious  intelligence  of  the  fall 
of  Yicksburg  on  the  fourth.  An  unutterable  weight 
was  now  lifted  from  our  minds  ;  for  we  knew  that  we 
were  safe  from  any  attack  by  Johnson,  and  that  the 
capture  of  Port  Hudson  was  only  a  question  of  time. 

In  company'  with  Chaplain  Upson,  Captain  Corn- 
well,  and  Lieut.  Kinney  of  the  Thirteenth,  and  Quar 
termaster  Ives  of  the  Twenty-fifth,  the  writer  rode  to 
Col.  Nelson's  head-quarters.  He  commanded  a  col 
ored  regiment.  We  found  him  in  high  glee  at  receiv 
ing  a  hundred  Confederate  dollars,  which  he  had  just 
won  in  a  bet  with  a  rebel  major  inside  the  works.  He 
had  laid  a  wager  that  Vicksburg  had  surrendered. 
The  understanding  was  that  the  Confederate  paper 
15* 


170 

should  be  replaced  by  greenbacks  in  New  Orleans. 
His  interview  with  the  rebels  was  amusingly  told. 
He  had  been  in  the  habit  of  conversing  during  the 
siege  with  the  rebel  officers  in  his  front,  and  had  de 
lighted  in  telling  them  the  most  egregious  lies. 
Among  other  things  he  had  gravely  informed  the 
-major  that  the  besiegers  were  so  pleasantly  situated 
they  had  no  desire  of  terminating  the  siege  !  that 
nothing  would  suit  us  better  than  to  remain  before 
Port  Hudson  until  winter,  and  we  should  regard  it  as 
a  positive  misfortune  to  capture  the  place  !  that  con 
sequently,  we  had  never  assaulted  the  place  in  earn 
est !  that  we  were  abundantly  supplied  with  every 
luxury  the  New  Orleans  market  could  afford  !  that 
most  of  the  officers  had  little  gardens  near  their 
tents,  which  furnished  lettuce,  radishes,  onions  and 
all  kinds  of  garden  sauce  daily  !  and,  particularly, 
that  the  Sanitary  Commission  had  established  beauti 
ful  pavilions,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  apart,  all  around  our 
lines,  where  the  weary  soldier  could  at  any  time  ob 
tain  ice-creams,  iced  lemonade,  and  other  liquors  and 
luxuries,  all  gratis  ! 

A  cessation  of  hostilities  was  now  proclaimed  along 
the  whole  lines. 

Three  commissioners,  of  whom  Colonel  Birge  was 
one,  met  three  rebel  commissioners  and  agreed  upon 
terms  of  surrender. 

Towards  evening  the  writer  rode  with  Lieut.  Baker 
along  the  rebel  works,  where  many  a  mouldering 
corpse,  a  clotted  mass  of  corruption,  told  how  dread 
ful  had  been  the  struggle.  Everywhere  was  wild  ex 
citement.  White  flags,  white  handkerchiefs,  strips  of 
canvas,  and  balls  of  cotton,  were  hung  on  every  part 


171 

of  the  works.  The  long,  long  agonf  was  over.  Here 
at  least  the  demon  of  war  should  be  drunk  with 
human  blood  nevermore. 

As  a  special  mark  of  honor  the  storming  brigade 
entered  Port  Hudson  the  morning  of  July  9,  to  re 
ceive  the  surrender.  A  deserved  recognition  of  the 
distinguished  services  of  the  Thirteenth  was  seen  in 
the  fact,  that  our  colors  and  our  band  were  selected 
from  all  others  to  grace  the  triumphal  pageant.  We 
marched  down  near  the  railroad  depot  and  then  turn 
ed  to  the  right  past  the  long  line  of  six  thousand  pris 
oners.  These  looked  ragged  and  rough,  but  in  good 
flesh  and  healthy.  They  appeared  to  be  rather  taller 
and  larger  than  the  average  of  our  men.  We  could 
hear  them  mutter  repeatedly  in  low  tones,  "  D — 
you  !  You  couldn't  take  us  by  fighting  !  You  had 
to  starve  us  out !"  At  the  command,  "  Ground 
Arms !"  they  flung  them  spitefully  down. 

The  ceremony  over,  our  two  hundred  and  forty 
stormers  rejoined  the  remainder  of  the  regiment. 
Here  we  found  two  rebel  prisoners,  Lieut-col.  Lee, 
Fifteenth  Arkansas,  and  Captain  Hardee,  Miles' 
Legion,  Louisiana.  They  had  been  intercepted  in  at 
tempting  to  escape,  having  been  two  days  in  the 
swamps  without  food,  trying  to  pass  our  pickets. 
Giving  them  as*  good  a  dinner  as  we  were  able  to 
provide,  and  furnishing  Capt.  Hardee  with  a  copious 
supply  of  whiskey,  the  writer  sent  them  to  General 
Grover  under  charge  of  Sergeant  Aldrich.  Col.  Lee 
was  one  of  the  few  rebel  officers  who  never  drank  a 
drop  of  liquor. 

With  Lieuts.  Tibbets  and  Beaton,  and  Lieut-col. 
Weld  of  the  Twenty-fifth,  the  writer  visited  the  in- 
.  side  of  the  stronghold. 


172 

"  Juvat  ir%£t  Dorica  castra 

Desertosque  videre  locos  litusque  relictum, 

******** 

Classibus  hie  locus  ;  hie  acie  certare  solebant." 
Cannon  shot  had  sadly  mangled  the  church  and 
some  other  buildings.  The  ground  was  everywhere 
scooped  out  in  enormous  hollows,  where  the  vast 
bomb-shells  of  the  fleet  had  fallen  and  burst.  The 
logs  which  in  many  places  surmounted  the  parapet, 
were  packed  full  of  lead  from  our  muskets.  The 
rebel  artillery  bore  remarkable  testimony  to  the  ac 
curacy  of  ours,  a  great  proportion  of  their  heavy 
guns  being  dismounted.  Where  our  approaches  came 
nearest,  extraordinary  precautions  had  been  taken. 
Torpedoes  had  been  thickly  planted  outside  and  in 
side  the  parapet.  Our  mines  had  been  met  by  coun 
termines.  Where  our  column  had  penetrated  with 
the  Thirteenth  Connecticut  at  its  head  on  the  fatal 
fourteenth  of  June,  the  inside  had  been  thick  set  with 
pointed  stakes  inclining  towards  the  parapet.  But  a 
description  of  these  and  a  thousand  kindred  things 
belongs  more  appropriately  elsewhere. 

Such  was  the  part  taken  by  the  Thirteenth  Connec 
ticut  in  the  eventful  siege  of  Port  Hudson.  By  its 
heroic  conduct  in  every  emergency,  and  especially  on 
the  fourteenth  of  June,  and  more  especially  still  in 
the  grand  Storming  Column  of  one  thousand,  the  regi 
ment  placed  itself  far  in  advance  of  all  rivalry.  No 
spot  dims  the  brightness  of  that  page.  The  regiment 
stood  alone.  For  days  and  weeks  two  hundred  and 
forty-one  of  its  members  looked  death  in  the  face, 
and  offered  all  on  their  country's  altar.  Full  well  they 
knew,  for  hard  experience  had  taught  them,  the 
ground  over  which  they  must  pass,  the  wall  of  fire 


173 

and  steel  they  must  climb,  the  whirlwind  of  shot  they 
must  face.  When  all  other  regiments  shrunk  back 
and  clung  to  life,  the  Thirteenth  Connecticut  pressed 
forward,  and  with  the  sublimest  courage  and  self-sac 
rifice  they  dared  the  issue  ! 

How  delightful  the  repose  that  followed!  The 
siege  had  been  one  long-continued  battle ;  a  battle 
that  lasted  forty-four  days  after  the  investment  was 
complete.  Yicksburg  was  not  so  bloody.  Seven 
millions  of  projectiles  had  been  fired  by  us  since  we 
started  for  Port  Hudson  !  But  now  the  seemingly 
endless  din  had  ceased,  and  we  felt  how  sweet  was 
rest!  how  prophetic,  too,  of  that  "nobler  rest 
above !" 

"  No  rude  alarms  of  raging  foes  ; 
No  cares  to  break  the  long  repose  ; 
No  groans  to  mingle  with  the  songs 
That  warble  from  immortal  tongues  1" 


CHAPTER    Y. 

ON  the  eleventh  of  July,  1863,  the  Thirteenth  Con 
necticut,  with  the  effective  men  of  the  brigade,  the 
Twelfth  Maine  and  Twenty-fourth  Connecticut, 
marched  through  Port  Hudson  and  down  the  bluff  to 
the  steamer  Laurel  Hill,  on  which  they  embarked  for 
Donaldsonville.  Arriving  at  this  town  we  bivouacked 
near  the  levee,  Colonel  Birge  being  in  command  of 
the  division. 

July  13,  Colonel  Morgan's  division,  lying  on  both 
sides  of  the  Bayou  La  Fourche,  was  attacked  by  a 
heavy  force  of  the  enemy  and  driven  back  on  the 
town  with  a  loss  of  several  pieces  of  artillery,  and 
many  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners.  The  Thirteenth, 
at  sound  of  the  cannonade,  fell  rapidly  into  line  and 
marched  with  the  rest  of  the  brigade  to  their  support. 
We  met  them  as  they  were  retreating  in  good  order. 
On  our  way  we  came  upon  Colonel  Dudley  falling 
back  with  his  brigade.  He  said  to  Colonel  Birge  who 
had  just  halted  us,  "  You'd  better  fallback.  You're 
too  far  to  the  front.  I'm  going  back  to  a  position  I 
can  hold."  Colonel  Birge,  with  a  glance  at  the 
Thirteenth,  replied,  loud  enough  to  be  heard  by  the 
regiment,  "  I  can  hold  this  position."  We  formed 
line  along  the  levee.  Colonel  Morgan  was  brought 
past  us  to  their  rear  in  a  wagon,  having  been  "  sun- 
struck  !"  From  the  levee  we  could  seethe  enemy  at  the 
bend  in  the  bayou,and  received  a  few  parting  shots,which 
flew  harmlessly  over  us  or  fell  short  in  the  water.  The 


175 

enemy  retiring,  Colonel  Birge  formed  the  division  in 
line  of  battle  in  rear  of  the  town,  the  right  resting  on 
the  bayou  and  the  left  on  the  Mississippi.  Here  we 
slept  on  our  arms.  On  this  line  the  division  remain 
ed  some  days. 

The  battle  of  Donaldsonville  was  substantially  over 
when  we  arrived.     The  engagement  was  creditable  to 
our  soldiers,  who  displayed  their  usual  gallantry.  But 
the  feeble  condition  of  Colonel  Morgan  and  perhaps  of 
some  other  officers,  gave  the  advantage  to  the  enemy. 
It  appears  that  the  rebels  had   come   in   while   we 
were  concentrated  at  Port  Hudson.     On  the  twenty- 
first  of  the  preceding  June  they  had  captured  Brashear 
City  and  Bayou  Boeuf.     Fights  occurred  at  Brashear, 
Bayou   Ramois,   Chockahoula    Station,   La   Fourche 
Crossing,  and   Donaldsonville.      At   the   last-named 
place  a  small  force  of  our  troops  in  Fort  Butler,  most 
ly  invalids,  repulsed  twenty  times  their  number.     All 
our  stores  at  Brashear  and   Bayou  Boeuf,   were  lost. 
The  sugar  mill  and  contents  were  burned.     The  loss 
fell  heavily  on  many  of  us.     The  government  made 
no  recompense.     In  the  affair  at  Bayou  Ramois,  Ser 
geant  Blanchard,  Co.  E,  was  killed  on  the  bridge  by 
a  volley  from  the  enemy. 

The  military  situation  in  the  La  Fourche  country 
being  similar  to  what  it  had  been  on  our  previous 
campaign  in  that  region,  it  was  thought  that  a  suit 
able  land  and  naval  force  might  intercept*  the  enemy 
at  Brashear,  as  had  been  vainly  attempted  the  preced 
ing  autumn.  Accordingly,  orders  were  said  to  have 
been  received  by  General  Grover  to  send  two  of  his 
best  regiments  to  Brashear  by  steamer.  The  Twelfth 
and  Thirteenth  Connecticut  were  selected. 

July  18,  they  received   notice  to  cook   two  days' 


176 

rations  and  be  ready  to  embark.  July  21,  at  six 
o'clock  P.  M.  we  went  on  board  the  ocean  steamer 
Crescent,  with  the  Twelfth.  We  expected  to  fight  the 
rebels  who  held  Brashear  ;  yet  we  left  Donaldsonville 
without  regret,  having  suffered  much  during  our  ten 
days  there,  for  want  of  tents,  baggage,  clothing,  and 
food. 

Steaming  down  the  river,  we  arrived  in  New  Or 
leans  early  in  the  morning  of  July  22.  Lieut-col.  F. 
H.  Peck,  Twelfth  Connecticut,  was  senior  officer  in 
command  of  the  troops.  At  New  Orleans,  where  we 
lay  at  anchor  a  day  and  a  half,  off  Canal  street,  we 
were  visited  by  Col.  Warner  and  Capt.  Grosvenor. 
Adjt.  Whittlesey  here  rejoined  the  regiment. 

During  the  night  of  the  twenty-second,  as  we  lay 
at  anchor,  a  singular  panic  occurred  on  the  hurricane 
deck,  which  was  crowded  with  sleeping  soldiers.  One 
of  them,  dreaming  we  were  suddenly  attacked  by  the 
rebels,  leaped  up  with  loud  shrieks  and  alarmed  his 
companions.  Half-naked,  confused,  bewildered  in  the 
darkness,  they  sprang  to  their  feet,  four  or  five  rush 
ing  overboard .  Two  were  drowned  in  the  swift  stream ; 
private  Alger  of  A  and  a  soldier  of  the  Twelfth. 
The  remainder  were  picked  up  by  a  boat  from  a  French 
war  steamer. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  twenty-third  we  steamed 
down  the  river,  and  out  of  South-west  Pass  at  night. 
Next  day  WQ  made  fine  progress  till  noon,  when  we 
got  into  shallow  water,  where  the  steamer  left  a  long 
muddy  wake  and  often  grounded.  Finally  we  were 
obliged  to  lie  quiet  all  night  about  two  miles  from  a 
light-house.  The  weather  being  hot  and  the  troops 
crowded,  we  found  the  steamer  a  most  uncomfortable 


177 

place.  Next  day,  July  25,  we  steamed  along,  getting 
aground  occasionally.  We  arrived  at  Brashear  at 
three  o'clock  p.  M.  We  went  ashore.  The  rebels  had 
hastily  evacuated  the  town  previous  to  our  arrival, 
pitching  some  of  their  artillery  into  the  river,  burn 
ing  the  cars,  smashing  their  locomotives,  and  setting 
fire  to  some  of  the  large  gun-carriages,  which  were 
still  burning.  They  had  done  a  great  deal  of  fortify 
ing  during  the  month  they  had  held  possession.  Fort 
after  fort,  one  of  them  with  embrasures  for  eighteen, 
guns,  had  sprung  up  for  miles  along  the  river  on  both 
sides.  They  were  clever  in  their  wit,  too.  In  con 
spicuous  capitals,  on  the  walls  of  one  room  at  the 
depot,  was  the  significant  inscription,  "  Office  of  Major- 
General  N,  P.  Banks,  Chief  of  Ordnance  for  the  C.  S. 
A.  forces  south  of  Red  River,  and  Ex-commissary 
of  StonewallJackson  !" 

We  lay  two  days  in  a  muddy,  filthy  field  near  the 
railway  and  not  far  from  the  depot.  The  ground  had 
been  a  camp.  At  night  musquitoes  swarmed  in  num 
bers  and  vigor  unparalleled  ;  an  indescribable  torment. 

July  27,  we  moved  three-quarters  of  a  mile  to  a  de 
lightful  green  plot  on  the  river  bank,  close  to  an  ex 
tensive  sugar  mill. 

Sunday,  August  2,  our  pickets  at  the  bend,  nearly 
a  mile  above  our  camp,  had  an  exciting  skirmish  with 
a  party  of  twenty  or  thirty  rebel  horsemen  across  the 
river.  Being  field-officer  of  the  day,  and  riding  with 
Lieut.  Baker  on  the  bank  where  there  was  110  cover, 
the  writer  was  the  recipient  of  close  and  numerous 
attentions  from  their  rifles.  Deserters  coming  in  re 
ported  an  intended  attack. 

August  4,  a  flag  of  truce,  escorted  by  a  large  num- 
16 


178 

her  of  cavalry,  made  its  appearance  on  the  other  side 
of  the  river.  As  they  came  leisurely  along,  they  had 
a  capital  opportunity  to  reconnoitre  our  position. 
Annoyed  beyond  measure  at  their  cool  audacity,  we 
had  yet  no  means  of  stopping  their  advance.  We 
were  delighted  when  at  last  a  big  gun  on  the  steamer 
Clifton  thundered  the  wished-for,"Halt !"  Their  busi 
ness  being  trivial,  Col.  Peck  thought  it  prudent  to 
withdraw  the  Thirteenth  from  its  exposed  position. 
Next  day  we  returned  in  a  rain  storm  to  our  former 
mud  camp. 

While  at  Brashear,  Lieut.  Wells,  with  company  I, 
went  on  a  two  days  reconnoitering  expedition.  They 
embarked  on  the  gunboat  Estrella,  and  passed  up  the 
Teche,  and  into  Grand  Lake  in  pursuit  of  a  steamer, 
the  presence  of  which  was  betrayed  by  its  smoke.  On 
the  Teche  they  were  attacked  by  guerillas,  whose  fire 
they  answered  with  artillery.  In  the  midst  of  Grand 
Lake  they  ran  aground,  an  accident  for  which  they 
believed  themselves  indebted  to  a  disloyal  pilot.  After 
twelve  hours  they  were  pulled  off  by  the  Clifton, 
which  had  come  to  their  assistance. 

Through  the  frailty  of  Dr.  B.,  Surgeon  of  the  One 
Hundred  and  Thirty-first  New  York,  the  two  regi 
ments  were  now  left  without  a  physician.  The  swamp 
malaria,  the  rain,  mud,  lack  of  shelter  from  the 
scorching  heat  of  mid-day,  and  the  heavy  dews,  and, 
not  least,  the  unutterable  nuisance  of  musquitoes, 
began  to  tell  on  the  health  of  the  regiment.  More 
than  half  fell  sick.  At  one  time  but  a  single  officer 
was  fit  for  duty.  The  consequences  were  lasting. 
Eleven  of  the  Thirteenth  are  reported  to  have  died  in 
University  Hospital  in  September.  Hospital  Steward 


179 

William  Bishop  rendered  invaluable  service.  On  the 
eleventh  of  August  we  were  rejoiced  at  the  appear 
ance  of  our  tried  and  faithful  physician,  Dr.  Clary, 
who  had  been  absent  sick  for  several  weeks. 

August  12,  the  long  railroad  bridge  over  Bayou 
Rainois,  four  miles  from  Brashear,  was  completed  by 
workmen  under  charge  of  Sergeant  Maddux. 

August  13,  General  Weitzel  and  staff  came  in  the 
first  train  from  Algiers.  A  salute  was  fired  by  the 
fleet  in  honor  of  his  arrival.  A  scene  of  great  hila 
rity  followed  in  the  car,  where  mirth  and  conviviality 
ruled  the  hour.  All  were  in  good  spirits  for  some 
time. 

August  16,  Lieut.  Perkins  was  sent  with  Company 
C  on  picket  to  Bayou  Boeuf.  Here  they  lived  three 
days  on  nothing,  while  the  musquitoes  lived  on  them  ! 
August  19,  the  Clifton  took  them  off  to  Brashear, 
whence  the  remainder  of  the  regiment  had  just  started 
for  Algiers  by  rail. 

At  nine  p.  M.,  the  regiment  arrived  at  the  Algiers 
railroad  depot,  where  they  remained  all  night.  Next 
day  at  three  P.  M,  we  embarked  on  the  steamer  Jatan 
(not  Satan,  as  often  improperly  spelled),  and  went  up 
the  river  near  to  Carrollton.  Here,  for  the  first  time 
in  five  months,  we  were  allowed  tents.  The  poorest 
house  is  better  than  a  tent,  as  the  poorest  tent  is  bet 
ter  than  no  shelter  at  all. 

Next  day  we  went  into  camp  on  ground  formerly 
occupied  by  the  First  Louisiana,  a  part  of  our  old 
camp  Kearney. 

August  23,  private  Secille,  Company  F,  was 
drowned  while  bathing  in  the  Mississippi. 

August  26,  Assistant-surgeon  L.  W.  Clarke,  oppor- 


180 

tunely  arrived.  There  was  much  sickness,  and  he 
was  remarkable  for  his  unremitting  attention  to  his 
patients,  as  well  as  his  skill  in  the  treatment  of  dis 
ease. 

August  28,  orders  came  at  dusk  for  the  regiment 
to  be  ready  to  move  with  one  day's  cooked  rations  at 
seven  next  morning.  At  nine*A.  M.  the  regiment  left 
by  steamer  for  Algiers  ;  thence  by  rail  at  five  P.  M.  to 
Terrebonne  station  on  the  New  Orleans,  Opelousas 
and  Great  Western  Railroad.  We  arrived  at  eleven 
p.  M. 

Sunday,  August  30,  the  regiment  marched  three 
miles  to  Madam  Guion's  plantation^  lying  alongside 
the  Bayou  La  Fourche,  and  in  the  edge  of  Thibodaux. 
Madam  Guion,  though  an  ardent  secessionist,  was  a 
kind,  true-hearted  woman,  a  lady  of  the  highest  re 
spectability  and  moral  worth. 

Much  sickness  prevailed  ;  the  result  of  the  hard 
ships  and  exposures  of  the  five  preceding  months. 
For  illustration  :  August  BO,  Company  H  had  twenty- 
four  nominally  present  for  duty,  but  all  being  really 
greatly  debilitated ;  ten  present  sick ;  twenty-five 
absent  sick  and  wounded. 

September  1,  Captain  Sprague,  Lieuts.  Wells  and 
Beckwith,  Sergts.  Wheeler  and  Sterry,  and  Corpls. 
Brown,  Baldwin,  Murphy  and  Gay,  were  directed  to 
proceed  to  New  Haven,  "  to  receive  and  conduct  re 
cruits  to  the  regiment."  This  detachment  left  Thibo 
daux  September  third  for  New  Orleans  ;  thence,  via 
Mississippi  river  to  Cairo,  and  by  rail  to  New  Haven. 

For  some  months  the  regiment  enjoyed  much- 
needed  rest,  and  gradually  recovered  health  and 
strength.  Under  the  judicious  care  of  Captain  Com- 


181 

stock,  the  camp  was  beautifully  laid  out,  the  com 
pany  streets  were  handsomely  paved  with  brick,  the 
tents  were  neatly  floored,  a  drum-corps  of  remarkable 
skill  was  trained  by  Principal  Musician  Hadley,  who 
had  returned  from  desertion,  and  the  regiment  was 
drilled  in  the  various  company  and  battalion  move 
ments.  Time  passed  rapidly  and  pleasantly. 

September  19,  1863,  Colonel  Birge  was  promoted 
to  be  brigadier. 

October  5,  Capt.  Blinn  was  promoted  lieut-colonel, 
and  Capt.  Sprague,  major.  November  5,  Blinn  was 
promoted  colonel ;  Sprague,  lieut-colonel ;  Comstock, 
major.  In  November,  Sprague  received  a  commis 
sion  as  colonel  of  the  Eleventh  Regiment,  0.  D.  A. 

The  detachment  sent  to  New  Haven  was  detained 
there  at  Conscript  Rendezvous,  on  courts-martial  and 
other  duties,  till  near  mid-winter. 

December  31,  Capt.  McCord  and  the  writer  rejoined 
the  regiment  at  Thibodaux.  We  found  the  men  as 
comfortable  as  the  intensely  cold  weather,  and  the 
pond  of  mud  and  water,  in  which  each  tent  was  an 
island,  would  allow.  Col.  Blinn  was  in  command.  Major 
Corns tock  had  left  for  the  North.  Captain  Cornwell 
with  Lieut.  Meissner  had  formed  a  mounted  detach 
ment  of  thirty-five  picked  men  of  the  Thirteenth,  for 
duty  at  Gen.  Birge's  head-quarters.  This  detach 
ment  always  appeared  well  and  rendered  good  service 
on  several  important  occasions. 

The  same  evening  a  pleasant  scene  was  enacted  at 
Thibodaux.  It  was  the  presentation  of  a  magnificent 
sword,  belt,  sash  and  spurs  to  General  Birge,  the  gift 
of  the  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  regiment.  Captain 
McCord  had  selected  them  with  exquisite  taste  at 
16* 


182 

Tiffany's,  at  a  cost  of  about  five  hundred  dollars. 
The  presentation  speech  was  made  by  Colonel  Blinn, 
to  which  the  general  briefly  and  modestly  responded. 
Other  speeches  followed  and  toasts  were  offered.  Cap 
tain  Darden,  a  citizen,  was  present,  and  in  a  very 
happy  frame  of  mind.  He  had  been  drinking  of  a 
peculiar  liquor  entitled  "  Perfect  Love,"  which  "  cast- 
eth  out  fear  "  and  sorrow  !  "  Gentlemen,"  said  he, 
"  I  propose  a  toast — c  The  Mayflower  !  May  she 
live  /'  '  Then,  after  a  moment's  pause,  "  Gentle 
men,  go  slow.  I  am  Captain  Darden,  descended  from 
an  ancient  family,  known  in  history  as  the  Dardanelles! 
The  Mayflower  was  the  first  ship  tiiat  came  to  this 
country.  I  came  soon  afterwards,  and  selected  this 
beautiful  spot  for  my  residence, — the  finest  country 
in  the  world.  Go  slow,  gentlemen !  I  speak  from 
observation.  I  have  traveled  extensively.  I  have 
seen  the  animals  in  the  geological  gardens  in  Europe. 
Go  slow  !  I  have  passed  through  the  Duchess  of  Saxe 
Weimar.  Therefore,  I  proposed  the  health  of  the 
Mayflower .'" 

January  2,  1864,  at  dress  parade,  the  regiment  was 
formed  in  double  column  and  listened  to  a  neat,  brief 
and  touching  speech  from  General  Birge,  who  thanked 
them  for  their  beautiful  presents,  and  bade  them  fare 
well  as  he  was  going  North  on  leave  of  absence. 
Colonel  E.  L.  Molineux  succeeded  the  general  in 
command. 

January  4,  Lieut.  Col.  Selden,  formerly  of  the 
Twenty-sixth  Connecticut,  arrived,  an  authorized 
agent  to  secure  the  re-enlistment  of  the  men  as  veteran 
volunteers.  The  orders  of  the  War  Department  not 
having  been  laid  before  the  regiment,  and  it  being 
generally  supposed  that  the  Thirteenth  had  not  been 


183 

long  enough  in  the  service  to  entitle  them  to  re-enlist, 
little  interest  had  been  felt  in  the  subject,  and  noth 
ing  had  been  done.  The  time  limited  was  January  5. 
But  one  day  therefore  remained.  In  that  one  day, 
wet,  cold  and  stormy,  each  company  was  called  up 
separately  in  the  rain,  and  the  matter  was  urged  upon 
them.  Four  hundred  men  accepted  the  proposition 
to  re-enlist  for  three  years  or  during  the  war  ;  and  we 
only  waited  for  the  arrival  of  proper  blanks.  This 
hearty,  spontaneous,  almost  universal  enlistment  of 
those  men  who  were  accessible,  there  being  but  four 
hundred  and  six  men  present  for  duty,  is  hardly 
paralleled  in  the  history  of  the  war.  It  was  fitting  that 
the  regiment,  which  had  been  so  conspicuous  for  hero 
ism  at  Irish  Bend  and  Port  Hudson,  should  surpass 
others  in  the  alacrity  with  which  they  volunteered  for 
another  three  years  of  hardship  and  death.  The 
want  of  blanks  was  a  very  serious  hindrance.  For 
tunately  the  War  Department  extended  the  time  to 
the  twelfth  of  January,  and  again  till  the  first  of 
March. 

The  re-enlistment  was  effected  under  three  prom 
ises  :  first,  that  the  men  should  receive  a  thirty  days' 
furlough  in  Connecticut ;  secondly,  that  the  Thir 
teenth  should  be  turned  into  cavalry ;  thirdly,  that 
they  should  be  promptly  mustered  out  at  the  close  of 
the  war,  if  it  happened  within  three  years.  None  of 
these  promises  was  fulfilled. 

January  25,  Mr.  Tobias  Gibson  called  for  a  guard 
over  his  negroes.  He  had  two  sons,  graduates  of  Yale 
in  1853  and  1854 ;  one  being  then  a  brigadier  in  the 
rebel  service.  Scores  of  similar  applications  were 
made,  some  of  which  were  granted. 


184 

The  wholesome  respect  felt  by  the  citizens  for  the 
Federal  officers  is  illustrated  by  the  instant  compli 
ance  of  a  wealthy  planter  with  a  demand  by  a  negro 
woman  for  her  wearing  apparel,  of  which  he  had  un 
justly  deprived  her.  She  presented  the  following 
solemn  document : 

Head-Quarters  Co.  A,  13th  Conn.  Yols., 

Thibodaux,  Jan.  29,  1864. 
General  Orders,  No.  1. 

Lucinda,  colored,  is  hereby  appointed  Laundress  of 
Company  A,  13th  Conn.  Yols.  She  will  be  obeyed 
and  respected  accordingly. 

J.  C.  KINNEY, 
Lieut.  Com'd'g  Co.  A,  13th  C.  Y. 

January  29,  a  photographic  picture  of  the  Thir 
teenth  at  dress  parade  was  taken. 

January  30,  a  General  Court  Martial,  of  which  the 
writer  was  president  and  Capt.  McCord  one  of  the 
members,  was  convened  at  Thibodaux.  It  sat  several 
weeks.  Among  the  cases  tried  was  that  of  private 
Nugent,  who  had  assaulted  "  Capt.  Perry  Averill, 
formerly  Lieut,  of  old  D,"  while  Field-officer  of  the 
Day.  Nugent  had  seized  the  .captain's  horse  by  the 
tail,  and  attempted  to  stop  him  by  tugging  thereat ; 
failing  in  this,  he  dragged  the  captain  from  the  horse 
and  tried  to  choke  him. 

The  One  hundred  Fifty-ninth  New  York  occupied 
ground  adjoining  ours  on  the  left.  The  Twenty-sixth 
New  York  Battery  was  half  a  mile  distant  on  the 
Terrebonne  road.  The  Ninetieth  New  York  was 
along  the  railroad.  The  One  hundred  Thirty-first 
was  at  Brashear.  The  First  Louisiana  was  at  Donald- 
sonville.  Barret's  Cavalry  were  at  Napoleon. 


185 

Tuesday  evening,  February  .9,  there  was  a  grand 
Soiree  Dansante,  or  Mardi  Gras  ball,  at  the  Court 
House  in  Thibodaux.  Many  of  the  officers  were  sur 
prised  to  find  their  names  in  the  list  of  managers  on 
the  cards  of  invitation.  One  Lieutenant-colonel,  hav 
ing  a  stye  on  his  eyelid,  declined  to  join  in  the  move 
ments  of  the  light  fantastic  toe.  These  were  days 
when  our  officers  were  fond  of  "going  down  to  Terre- 
bonne  to  shake  the  foot." 

Lasting  impressions  were  made  upon  the  soft  hearts 
of  some.  Lieut.  Daniels  married  Miss  K s,  daugh 
ter  of  the  worthy  postmaster  at  Thibodaux. 

February  12,  a  Board  of  Survey,  of  which  the  wri 
ter  was  president,  was  ordered  to  investigate  the  losses 
of  the  regiments  at  Bayou  Boeuf  and  Brashear  in  the 
preceding  June.  Their  efforts  were  laborious  and 
thorough.  They  strongly  urged  upon  the  Government 
to  reimburse  the  men  ;  but  in  vain. 

February  17,  there  was  a  large  political  gathering 
at  the  Court  House.  Speeches  were  made  by  Hon. 
Michael  Hahn,  and  Messrs.  Lynch,  Lombard,  and 
Shannon.  At  evening,  Bromley,  who  had  been  hon 
orably  discharged  the  service,  gave  a  "  scientific  sup 
per"  at  the  hotel !  He  ordered  stuffed  birds  of  para 
dise,  the  tongues  of  nightingales  and  the  brains  of 
humming-birds.  He  avowed  himself  a  representative 
of  the  interests  of  Mr.  Flanders,  the  rival  candidate  of 
Mr.  Hahn  for  the  gubernatorial  chair ;  Flanders  and 
Bromley  being  both  in  the  Treasury  Department.  An 
animated  political  discussion  arose,  in  which  Captain 
Darden,  one  of  the  savans,  challenged  Bromley  to 
point  out  the  difference  between  the  Hahn  principles 
and  the  Flanders  principles.  He  instantly  replied. 


186 

"  It's  the  same  as  between  charcoal  and  charcoa//" 
Captain  Raymond,  another  of  the  philosophers  at  the 
"  scientific  supper,"  interfered,  and  finally  grew  per 
sonal.  "  I  want  to  know,"  said  he  to  Bromley,  "  how 
a  quartermaster-sergeant  can  send  home  eighty  dol 
lars  a  month  !"  "  Why,  the  deuce  !"  said  Bromley  ; 
"  I'm  surprised  !  Don't  you  know  the  facilities  we 
have  for  sending  home  money?  Send  it  by  Adams 
Express,  of  course."  "  But  how  can  he  make  the 
money  ?"  said  the  captain.  "  Make  it  ?  Why,  that's 
a  reflection  upon  your  sagacity  !  Make  it  out  of  his 
regiment,  of  course!"  Capt.  Darden  now  chimed  in: 
"  Dont  you  Flanders  men  mean  to  put  the  negro  on 
an  equality  with  the  white  man  ?"  "  Put  the  negro 
on  an  equality  with  the  white  man  ?"  echoed  Bromley 
with  an  air  of  indignation  ;  "  Why,  no  !  We  consider 
the  negro  to  be  infinitely  above  the  white  man !  We 
wouldn't  degrade  the  negro,  by  bringing  him  down  to 
the  low  level  of  the  white  man  !"  "  Where  does  the 
Tombigbee  river  empty?"  interrupted  Capt.  Ray 
mond,  who  prided  himself  upon  his  geographical 
knowledge.  "  The  Tombigbee  river,"  said  Bromley  ; 
"  The  Tombigbee  river  empty  ?  Why,  where  do  you 
empty  a  bottle  of  whiskey  ?  Into  your  mouth  !  Well, 
the  Bigtomby  river  empties  into  its  mouth !"  So 
fared  it  at  the  "  scientific  supper." 

March  7,  a  brigade  of  cavalry  marched  through 
Thibodaux,  commanded  by  Colonel  N.  A.  M.  Dudley, 
who  had  been  known  by  the  sobriquet  of  "  The  Great 
North  American  Dudley,"  but  who  afterwards,  from 
the  splendor  of  his  uniform,  was  -called  "  Gold-Lace 
Dudley."  They  were  the  advance  guard  of  the  Red 


187 

River  army  on  their  way  overland  through  the  Teche 
country  to  Alexandria. 

Saturday,  March  12,  Major  Comstock  returned 
from  a  two  and  a  half  months'  absence  North.  Lieut. 
Wells  also  came,  bringing  fifty  recruits  from  the  State 
rendezvous.  The  next  week  he  was  mustered  as  Cap 
tain,  and  Second-lieutenant  Kinney  was  mustered  as 
First-lieutenant. 

March  13,  General  Grover  arrived  at  Thibodaux, 
and  assumed  Command  of  the  Second  Division,  Nine 
teenth  Corps.  Next  day,  by  General  Order  No.  1,  he 
brigaded  the  division.  The  Second  Brigade,  under 
General  Birge,  comprised  the  Ninetieth  New  York, 
Thirteenth  Connecticut,  One  hundred  Thirty-first  New 
York,  One  hundred  Fifty-ninth  New  York,  and  First 
Louisiana. 

March  15,  orders  came  to  be  ready  to  march  at  half 
an  hour's  notice.  March  19,  we  moved  to  Terrebonne 
station  ;  thence,  in  the  morning  by  rail  to  Algiers, 
where  we  arrived  at  noon.  Here  we  bivouaced  near 
the  railroad.  At  night  a  cold  rain  storm  came  on, 
which  soaked  the  regiment  and  made  the  ground  a 
lake  of  mud.  March  21,  the  Thirteenth  marched  into 
the  old  Belleville  iron-foundry  on  the  principal  street 
in  Algiers. 

Friday,  March  25, 1864,  we  embarked  on  the  steam 
er  Alice  Vivian,  a  captured  blockade-runner.  At 
dusk  we  steamed  across  to  New  Orleans,  where  we 
lay  till  nine  o'clock,  p.  M.,  and  then  moved  up  the 
river.  Next  day,  at  seven,  we  passed  Donaldsonville  ; 
at  one,  Baton  Rouge  ;  at  four,  Port  Hudson.  At 
night  we  tied  up  to  the  river  bank.  On  the  27th  we 
entered  Red  River.  At  noon  we  saw  Fort  DeRussy, 


188 

which  A.  J.  Smith  had  captured  two  days  before  the 
arrival  of  General  Banks.  At  night  we  again  tied  up 
to  the  river  bank. 

At  seven  A.  M.,  March  28,  we  reached  Alexandria. 
We  went  into  camp  half  a  mile  above  town  on  the 
right  bank,  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  high  bridge 
spanning  the  Bayou  Rapides.  Along  this  bayou  that 
morning  the  long  lines  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps,  under 
General  Franklin,  were  moving  out  by  the  flank. 
Close  to  this  place  of  bivouac,  some  weeks  later,  was 
built  the  celebrated  Red  River  dam.  Hardly  had  we 
reached  this  position  when  we  saw  a  fine  large  Missis 
sippi  steamboat  strike  on  the  rocks  at  the  rapids  just 
above  us,  and  settle  a  few  feet  in  the  water.  It  was 
a  hospital  boat,  and  lay  there  partially  submerged  for 
some  weeks.  Lieut.  Stanley  of  the  Thirteenth  was 
sent  with  a  guard  of  ten  men  to  protect  it  while  pa 
tients  and  stores  were  removed. 

Friday,  April  1,  we  moved  with  the  rest  of  the  bri 
gade  at  noon  to  the  other  side  of  the  bayou  nearer  the 
town.  The  regiment  was  engaged  in  picket  duty. 
April  4,  General  Birge  arrived  on  the  steamer  Battle. 
April  7,  a  heavy  rain  fell,  completely  flooding  our 
camp.  The  eighth  and  ninth  were  clear  and  cold,  and 
the  pond  of  water  vanished. 

Monday,  April  11,  at  ten  o'clock,  P.  M.,  the  regiment 
left  Alexandria  on  the  steamer  Ohio  Belle,  bound  for 
Grand  Ecore.  The  captain  of  the  boat  expressed  some 
doubt  of  being  able  to  reach  his  destination  at  the 
time  appointed.  General  Birge  suspecting  him  of  dis 
loyalty,  notified  him  in  very  emphatic  language,  that 
he  must  bring  his  boat  to  Grand  Ecore  at  the  desig- 


189 

nated  hour.  Private  Henry  Robinson,  of  G,  was  lost 
overboard  and  drowned  at  night. 

About  three  P.  M.  next  day,  as  we  steamed  up  the 
river,  a  sharp  fire  was  opened  by  guerillas  upon  the 
troops  who  were  crowded  upon  the  upper  and  hurri 
cane  decks.  It  was  a  complete  surprise  and  caused 
a  great  stampede  to  the  lower  deck.  Our  soldiers 
vigorously  returned  the  fire.  The  scramble  to  get  out 
of  the  way  of  the  rebel  balls  was  amusing.  One  ser- 
gent  jumped  down  through  the  covered  top  of  a  tele 
graph  wagon.  The  pilot  house  was  riddled,  and  the 
negro  pilot  expressed  great  wonder  at  the  small  dimen 
sions  into  which  a  field  officer  compressed  himself. 
The  frantic  ejaculations  of  one  captain  to  another, 
"  Don't  delay  me  !  Don't  delay  me  !  Get  out  of  the 
way  !  Let  me  skedaddle  !^'  were  an  inexhaustible 
subject  of  merriment  to  his  fellow  officers.  Two  men 
of  Company  H  were  wounded.  One  of  them,  Henry 
Smith,  as  neat  and  faithful  a  soldier  as  any  in  the  regi 
ment,  lost  his  leg. 

Guerilla-firing  on  boats  was  a  daily  occurrence  on 
the  Red  River.  Every  steamer  must  run  the  gauntlet. 
The  upper  works  of  many  were  honey-combed  by  rebel 
shot.  The  stream  was  so  low  between  the  high  banks 
that  the  large  guns  of  the  fleet  could  not  effectively 
return  the  fire. 

At  seven  p.  M.,  Tuesday,  April  12,  we  disembarked 
on  the  left  bank  opposite  Grand  Ecore.  Here  we 
threw  out  pickets  and  slept  on  our  arms  in  a  ploughed 
field.  Next  day  at  noon,  as  we  were  pitching  tents, 
Colonel  Blinn  rode  up  and  said,  "  Get  ready  for  a 
fight !"  We  immediately  "  fell  in,"  crossed  the  river 
on  a  pontoon  bridge,  and  went  through  the  village, 


190 

and  nearly  a  mile  back  from  the  stream  into  the 
woods.  Here  the  regiment  formed  part  of  a  continu 
ous  line  of  troops,  which  extended  circularly  around 
Grand  Ecore,  the  right  and  left  resting  on  the  river. 
Below  the  town  on  the  river  bank  was  the  Corps 
d'Afrique,  which  General  Banks  did  not  allow  to  do 
any  fighting.  Next  came  Lee's  cavalry  division,  of 
which  Lucas's  brigade  lay  next  the  colored  troops. 
Then  Dudley's  brigade  ;  alas  !  no  longer  "  Gold  Lace 
Dudley!"  Then  Fox's  New  York  battery  ;  the  Thirty- 
eighth  Massachusetts ;  the  One  Hundred  Twenty- 
eighth  New  York  ;  the  Thirteenth  Connecticut ;  First 
Louisiana  ;  Twenty-fourth  and  Twenty-sixth  Iowa  ; 
several  New  York  regiments ;  Forty-seventh  Penn 
sylvania  ;  batteries  from  Missouri,  Vermont  and  Dela 
ware  ;  Duryea's  Zouaves  ;  *nd  others,  extending  quite 
to  the  river. 

We  found  the  army  greatly  depressed.  The  battle 
at  Sabine  Cross  Roads,  April  7,  in  which  all  the  beau 
tiful  uniforms  and  all  the  precious  champagnes  of  the 
long  trains,  some  miles  of  wagons,  changed  owners  in 
the  midst  of  much  noise  and  confusion,  "  the  mules 
resolutely  facing  the  enemy  ;"  and  the  drawn  battle 
of  Pleasant  Hill,  April  8,  where  both  armies  sent  flags 
of  truce  which  met  on  the  battle-field  from  which 
each  had  retreated  ;  placed  our  invading  army  on  the 
defensive. 

Grand  Ecore,  as  its  name  indicates,  is  on  high 
bluffs.  The  village  is  composed  of  forty  or  fifty 
houses,  picturesquely  situated.  The  place  is  easily 
fortified.  It  is  four  or  five  miles  from  the  old  town  of 
Nachitoches. 

Shreveport  was  the  objective  point  of  the  expedi- 


191 

tion.  What  General  Banks  would  have  done,  had  he 
captured  it,  is  matter  of  conjecture.  It  was  at  that 
time  the  rebel  capital  of  Louisiana ;  but  of  little  im 
portance  in  a  strategic  view.  It  was  said  he  intended 
to  effect  a  junction  there  with  General  Steele  pushing 
a  column  from  Little  Rock.  Much  cotton  grows  in 
the  Red  River  country.  Grant  was  appointed  Lieute 
nant  general,  March  9.  At  that  time  the  expedition 
had  already  commenced,  and  Dudley,  with  his  miles 
of  wagons,  and  "  mules  resolutely  facing  the  enemy," 
was  far  on  the  road  to  Alexandria.  There  certainly 
appeared  to  be  danger  that  Banks  would  capture 
Shreveport  and  penetrate  Northern  Texas.  We  con 
jured  up  visions  of  El  Llano  Estacado  and  hordes  of 
swift  Camanches.  Let  us  hope  it  was  true,  as  com 
monly  reported,  that  Gen.  Banks  was  not  the  origi 
nator  of  the  Red  River  campaign,  but  acted  in  obedi 
ence  to  orders. 

It  was  essential  to  the  success  of  this  romantic  ex 
pedition  that  the  Red  River  should  rise.  The  old 
geographers  say  it  annually  overflows  its  banks  in 
April.  Had  such  been  the  fact  in  1864  we  might 
have  run  a  brilliant  career  of  conquest  and  gained 
new  views  of  El  Llano  Estacado  and  the  Great 
American  Desert.  Our  wooden  gunboats  and  iron 
clads  could  easily  have  penetrated  to  Shreveport; 
nay,  reached  the  great  rafts  !  General  Banks,  had  he 
returned  in  time  from  the  illimitable  plateaus,  might 
have  been  President !  But  the  genius  of  the  stream 
lay  low  with  the  alligators  in  the  red  ooze  of  the  bot 
tom  ;  disloyal,  or  heedless  of  almanacs  and  geogra 
phies  and  distinguished  political  generals  ! 

"  Heu  !  nihil  invitis  fas  quenquam  fidere  divis  /" 


192 

The  night  of  April  18  we  slept  on  our  arms  in  the 
woods.  Next  day  we  commenced  throwing  up  strong 
breastworks  along  the  whole  line.  Grand  Ecore  be 
came  at  once  a  vast  fortified  camp  similar  to  Port 
Hudson.  Thousands  of  negro  soldiers,  were  employ 
ed  cutting  down  trees  in  front  of  the  fortifications 
on  every  side. 

At  night  the  officers  of  the  Thirteenth  Connecticut 
and  First  Louisiana  used  to  meet  around  a  large 
camp-fire  and  relate  amusing  anecdotes. 

April  15,  the  enemy  were  reported  driving  in  our 
pickets.  Captain  Averill  and  Lieut.  Miner  with  a 
detachment  from  the  Thirteenth  embarked  with  rebel 
prisoners  for  Port  Hudson.  These  two  officers  were 
taken  sick.  After  some  two  or  three  months  Averill 
rejoined  us  for  duty  at  Algiers  ;  Miner,  at  Morganza. 

April  19,  we  received  orders  to  be  ready  to  move  at 
an  hour's  notice  against  the  enemy.  All  colored  per 
sons,  except  officer's  servants,  were  removed.  We 
were  evidently  preparing  for  active  service  of  some 
kind. 

This  day  the  number  of  officers  present  for  duty  in 
the  Thirteenth  was  twelve ;  of  enlisted  men,  three 
hundred  and  seventy-nine. 

Wednesday,  April  20,  A.  J.  Smith's  command 
moved  out  at  four  p.  M.,  on  the  Nachitoches  road. 

Thursday  was  a  quiet,  beautiful  day.  Occasional 
cannonading  was  heard.  At  five  o'clock,  p.  M.,  we 
marched  out  rapidly  from  Grand  Ecore  in  a  south 
easterly  direction  along  the  banks  of  Cane  River. 
Birge's  Brigade,  preceded  by  a  cavalry  force,  took  the 
lead,  and  the  whole  army  followed.  The  road  was 
long  and  dusty.  As  darkness  came  on  the  way  was 


193 

occasionally  lit  up  by  burning  houses  and  barns  ;  a 
disgraceful  and  needless  barbarism,  which  excited  our 
disgust  but  could  not  be  wholly  suppressed.  The 
march  was  very  rapid  and  severe  and  continued  till 
three  o'clock  next  morning  without  pause,  except  for 
a  few  minutes  where  the  roads  were  obstructed  by  the 
enemy  felling  trees.  We  made  twenty-five  miles  that 
night.  A  large  proportion  were  left  utterly  exhausted 
on  the  road.  Officers  fell  asleep  on  their  horses. 
Birge's  "style"  of  marching  was  too  rapid.  We  were 
obliged  to  wait  until  ten  o'clock  A.  M.  for  the  rest  of 
the  army  to  come  up. 

This  forced  march  from  Grand  Ecore  looked  like  a 
precipitate  flight.  As  we  resumed  our  retrograde 
movement  on  Friday  morning  at  ten  o'clock,  the  sold 
iers  struck  up  the  song,  more  truthful  than  poetic, 

"  In  eighteen  hundred  and  sixty-four 
*  We  all  skedaddled  from  Grand  -£core  !" 

This  day  we  marched  slowly  along  Cane  River 
about  ten  miles,  the  roads  being  much  obstructed  by 
felled  trees,  and  the  enemy  constantly  skirmishing 
with  our  van.  Lieutenant  Lyman,  in  command  of  the 
rear-guard  of  the  Thirteenth,  performed  his  duty  ad 
mirably.  No  one  of  our  men  lagged  behind.  The 
enemy  were  reported  several  thousand  strong,  mostly 
mounted.  The  country  was  generally  level,  inter 
spersed  with  woodland,  and  well  adapted  to  cavalry 
evolutions.  In  the  afternoon  our  advanced  guard  re 
ported  the  enemy  falling  back  in  line  of  battle.  Our 
regiments  were  kept  perfectly  compact  and  well  in 
hand.  Here  and  there  for  long  distances  the  rebels 
had  carefully  moved  round  as  on  a  pivot  each  length 
of  fence  rails,  so  as  to  allow  unobstructed  passage  to 
17* 


194 

their  horsemen.  Their  numbers  were  constantly  in 
creasing  ;  they  began  to  press  our  rear  and  hover  on 
our  flanks.  It  became  evident  that  we  were  to  have 
a  battle. 

Towards  sunset  we  reached  a  point  about  a  mile 
from  Monet's  Ford,  better  known  perhaps  as  "  Cane 
River  Crossing."  The  stream  runs  here  between 
steep  banks,  some  forty  feet  high,  and  perhaps  a 
hundred  yards  apart.  The  river  itself  varies  in  width 
according  to  the  season.  At  this  time  it  was  about  a 
hundred  feet  wide.  It  was  shallow  but  not  easily  for- 
dable,  except  at  the  point  where  the  Alexandria  road 
crosses  it.  Here,  .if  anywhere,  the  enemy  would  make 
a  stand. 

At  night  we  lay  on  our  arms  while  the  brigades  in 
our  rear,  and  the  wagon  trains,  were  arriving.  The 
situation  was  rather  serious.  A  heavy  force  of  rebel 
cavalry  with  artillery  was  posted  in  our  front,^>repared 
to  dispute  the  passage  of  the  stream.  A  like  force  of 
unknown  numbers  was  pressing  our  rear.  They  were 
elated  by  their  splendid  victory  of  Sabine  Cross  Roads, 
and  our  hasty  retreat  from  the  impregnable  stronghold 
of  Grand  Ecore.  Our  troops  were  sulky  but  full  of 
fight,  only  asking  a  chance  to  meet  the  enemy  on 
equal  terms. 

The  morning  of  Saturday,  April  23,  1864,  opened 
with  a  slight  rain.  A  heavy  cannonade  commenced 
directly  in  front.  The  enemy's  artillery,  advantage 
ously  posted  to  sweep  the  ford  and  all  approaches, 
opened  a  vigorous  fire  of  shell  on  our  advancing  col 
umns.  Our  own  artillery  quickly  responded,  and  the 
frequent  cheers  from  the  gunners  told  how  well  it  was 
served. 


195 

The  Thirteenth  moved  at  six  o'clock,  advancing  a 
short  distance  and  then  awaiting  orders,  while  the 
reconnoitering  and  the  artillery  duel  went  on.  The 
men  were  clamorous  to  be  led  to  the  charge  ;  for, 
ugly  as  the  place  looked,  it  was  far  better  than  Port 
Hudson.  If  we  could  once  get  at  them  with  the  bay 
onet,  we  felt  that  all  would  be  well. 

To  avoid  the  needless  effusion  of  blood,  and  gain 
possession  of  the  ford  with  the  least  loss  of  life,  it  was 
decided  to  send  a  strong  detachment  across  the  stream 
a  mile  or  two  further  up,  and  by  a  circuitous  route 
take  the  enemy  in  flank  or  rear.     General  Birge  was 
selected  to  lead  the  detachment.     He  moved  the  Thir 
teenth  Connecticut,  followed  by  the  First  Louisiana, 
Thirty-eighth   Massachusetts,   One  Hundred  Twenty- 
eighth,  One  Hundred  Sixty-fifth,  and  One  Hundred 
Seventy-third,   New    York,    Thirteenth   Maine,  and 
other  regiments,  a  mile  back.     A  negro  woman  point 
ed  out  the  best  place  for  crossing.     The  Thirteenth 
first  waded  the  stream,  the  water  being  waist  deep. 
Some  non-commissioned  officers  who  tried  to  cro*ss  dry 
shod  in  a  canoe,  were  capsized  in  the  middle  of  the 
stream,  to  the  great  amusement  of  the  other  soldiers. 
Forming  line  the  Thirteenth  moved  up  the  precipitous 
bank.     Throwing  out   skirmishers  and  flankers,  we 
penetiated   the  woods  and  advanced   slowly  in  line 
with  caution  and  silence,  about  a  mile  over  the  un 
known  ground.     Occasionally,  in  this  forest,  to  avoid 
obstacles,   we  passed  into  a   flank  movement  by  the 
right  of  companies,  but  immediately  came  again   into 
line.     The  mounted   men  of  the  Thirteenth   accom 
panied  us,  as  a  sort  of  body  guard  to   General  Birge, 
under  command  of  Lieut.  Meissner ;  Captain  Corn- 


196 

well  having  remained  at  Alexandria,  distributing  com 
missary  stores  to  the  destitute  and  starving  citizens. 

Emerging  from  the  woods  we  saw  across  a  wide 
field  what  first  appeared  to  be  earthworks.  As  we 
drew  nearer,  it  proved  to  be  the  red  soil  ot  ploughed 
ground.  Penetrating  another  hilly  forest,  the  regi 
ment  followed  a  winding  path,  until  our  skirmishers 
came  upon  the  enemy's  pickets.  Sharp  fighting  en 
sued  which  developed  the  rebel  position.  It  was  the 
crest  of  a  well-wooded,  rocky,  precipitous  ridge,  quar 
ter  of  a  mile  from  the  ridge  on  which  our  skirmishers 
now  took  post  in  front.  The  Union  regiments  in  the 
rear  of  our  skirmishers  were  out  of  view  of  the  rebels, 
whose  bullets,  however,  were  dropping  among  us,  oc 
casionally  hitting  a  man.  Between  us  and  the  enemy 
were  a  few  acres  of  smooth  cleared  land. 

The  troops  were  formed  in  two  lines  ;  the  first  con 
taining  the  First  Louisiana  on  the  right,  and  the  Thir 
teenth  Connecticut  on  the  left.  Colonel  Fiske,  out 
ranking  Colonel  Blinn,  commanded  this  line.  Behind 
us  were  the  New  York  regiments  and  the  Thirty- 
eighth  Massachusetts.  At  some  distance  on  our  right 
was  the  brigade  of  the  gallant  Fessenden,  which  was 
to  advance  on  the  enemy's  left,  while  we  charged  the 
centre. 

All  arrangements  having  been  completed,  Colonel 
Fisk  commanded,  "  Battalions  !  Forward  !  March  !" 
General  Birge's  instructions  were  to  descend  the 
wooded  slope,  cross  the  open  ground,  fire  not  a  shot, 
but  carry  the  rebel  position  with  the  bayonet.  The 
line  moved  forward  with  great  regularity  in  quick 
time.  Lieutenant  Kinney  shouted,  "  Come  on,  boys  ! 
The  paymaster  is  on  the  other  side  of  the  hill !"  Up 


197 

we  went  over  the  hill  where  our  skirmishers  stood. 
Detecting  the  movement  the  enemy  commenced  a 
furious  discharge  of  small  arms  and  artillery,  more 
noisy  than  destructive.  The  line,  not  at  all  discon 
certed,  moved  steadily  forward  without  returning  it, 
though  anxious  to  be  doing  execution  with  their  beau 
tiful  rifled  muskets.  A  heavy  fire  on  our  right  told 
us  that  Fessenden  was  hotly  engaged. 

Descending  into  the  open  field  our  ranks  were  dis 
arranged  by  a  rail  fence  and  an  irregular  gully.  Has 
tily  passing  these  and  reforming  line  without  halting, 
the  Thirteenth  pressed  forward  in  beautiful  style,  with 
perfect  confidence  and  steadiness.  On  our  right  the 
boundary  of  the  open  field  in  front  of  the  First  Lou 
isiana,  was  such  as  to  continually  force  them  to  the 
left,  crowding  and  doubling  their  ranks  upon  the 
Thirteenth,  and  compelling  us  to  move  obliquely  to 
the  left.  "Give  way  to  the -left!  Take  room  to  the 
left !  Touch  lightly  to  the  right !"  resounded  along 
the  whole  line,  and  finally,  "  Left  oblique  !  March  !" 
amid  the  stunning  roar  of  musketry  and  cannon. 
This  noise  was  stimulating  rather  than  intimidating  ; 
our  forty-four  days  under  fire  at  Port  Hudson  having 
taught  us  a  contempt  for  the  mere  thunder  of  battle. 
'  Reaching  the  foot  of  the  ridge  from  which  the 
enemy  were  pouring  down  their  bullets,  we  found 
another  rail  fence  and  gully  !  This  would  have  been 
a  little  discouraging,  had  not  the  hostile  fire  percepti 
bly  slackened  before  our  determined  onset.  We 
heard  a  clatter  and  rattle  as  of  steel  in  front.  Were 
they  fixing  bayonets  ?  Up  the  hill  we  started,  our 
pace  quickening  almost  to  a  run,  as  we  clambered  up 


198 

the  steeps,  laying  hold  of  the 'bushes,  and  finally  scal 
ing  the  summit.  Notwithstanding  the  advantage  of 
the  rebel  position,  we  captured  several  prisoners  ;  one 
of  whom,  a  handsome  Texan  youth  of  seventeen 
summers,  protested  that  he  had  been  conscripted  and 
that  he  served  most  unwillingly.  A  few  dead  and 
wounded  lay  here  and  there,  victims  of  our  skirmish 
fire,  for  in  our  charge  and  assault  we  had  rigidly  en 
forced  the  order  not  to  fire  a  shot.  Neither  in  this 
nor  in  any  other  battle  did  any  of  the  Thirteenth  kill 
a  man  with  the  bayonet,  the  enemy  always  giving 
way  before  it  became  a  hand-to-hand  fight. 

The  Thirteenth  and  the  First  Louisiana,  having 
reached  this  position  with  ranks  broken  and  disor 
dered  by  the  nature  of  the  ground,  but  not  in  the 
slightest  demoralized,  formed  line  for  another  advance. 
Total  strangers  to  the  locality  and  liable  to  be  am 
bushed,  we  waited  till  the  lines  in  our  rear  came  in 
sight,  when  the  order,  "  Forward— March !"  was 
again  given.  We  moved  among  the  trees  down  the 
opposite  slope  and  in  the  direction  the  enemy  had 
fled.  General  Birge  with  a  few  staff  officers  and 
Meissner's  cavalry,  passed  to  the  front  on  our  right. 
We  had  thus  advanced  in  line  thirty  or  forty  rods 
down  the  slope,  and  were  just  on  the  point  of  reach 
ing  the  edge  of  the  wood.  Here  was  an  irregular 
ravine  ten  or  a  dozen  feet  deep,  with  a  rivulet  in  its 
bed  and  a  bridge  across  it  on  the  right  of  our  regi 
mental  line.  A  rail  fence  was  on  its  bank  next  the 
woods,  and  a  little  cleared  land  in  front.  Suddenly 
the  thousand-fold  rattle  of  musketry  and  rapid  dis 
charges  of  artillery,  the  foe  being  invisible  and  yet 
apparently  within  touching  distance,  struck  a  momen- 


199 

tary  consternation  into  our  ranks.  They  halted  as  if 
paralyzed.  The  moment  was  a  trying  one.  We  had 
been  ambushed,  and  were  completely  taken  by  surprise. 
A  Braddock's  defeat  stared  us  in  the  face.  There 
was  no  time  for  deliberation.  We  could  not  stand 
under  that  withering  fire,  and  we  would  not  retreat, 
"  The  Thirteenth  never  retreats !"  we  shouted,  and 
"  Forward  !  Forward  !  At  them  with  the  bayonet !" 
We  leaped  over  the  fence,  into  and  out  of  the  ravine,  one 
or  two  companies  on  the  right  dashing  across  the  narrow 
bridge.  Halting  an  instant,  and  partially  reforming 
line  without  delay,  and  shouting  "  Forward  !  For 
ward  !"  we  rushed  rapidly  towards  the  rifle  smoke 
and  flash.  Sooner  than  it  can  be  told  a  great  com 
motion  occurred  on  the  right  of  our  regiment  and  the 
left  of  the  first  Louisiana.  Some  twenty  of  Meiss- 
ner's  cavalry  came  dashing  pell-mell  back  through 
the  ranks.  Many  of  them  were  covered  with  blood  ; 
horses  and  riders  were  falling,  Meissner  himself  shot 
through  and  through,  General  Birge  borne  along  hat- 
less  by  the  tide,  Captain  Young  of  Banks'  staff  with 
limbs  horribly  mangled  by  a  shell,  eighteen  of  the 
thirty  troopers  being  killed  or  wounded,  the  whole 
scene  tending  to  strike  a  panic  into  the  two  regiments. 
Many  of  the  men  fell  flat  on  their  faces  to  escape  the 
storm  of  shot ;  some  started  to  retreat.  The  voice  of 
Colonel  Fiske  was  heard  above  the  din  exclaiming, 
"  Stand  up  !  For  God's  sake,  stand  up  like  men  ! 
Stand  up  and  do  your  duty  like  men."  Most  of  the 
officers  joined  in  the  same  commands  and  a  universal 
shout  of  "  Forward  !  Forward  !"  again  rose.  The 
two  regiments  wavered  but  a  moment,  and  then 
plunged  wildly  on  towards  the  enemy.  A  crooked 
ravine  running  diagonally  across  the  field,  and  filled 


200 

with  interlacing  vines,  brambles  and  trees,  arrested 
our  disorderly  advance  and  afforded  cover.  For  ten 
or  fifteen  minutes  the  firing  continued.  The  writer 
being  the  only  mounted  officer  present,  found  it  ex 
pedient  to  make  frequent  "  changes  of  base  "  by  gal 
loping  from  one  end  of  the  line  to  the  other,  the  bul 
lets  singing  in  his  ears  like  a  swarm  of  angry  bees  ! 
A  most  unmelodious  sound  ;  and  yet  the  advantages 
of  ubiquity,  of  correct  observation,  of  a  husbanding 
of  strength,  and  of  a  good  example,  more  than  com 
pensate  for  the  additional  danger  arising  from  being 
on  horseback.  Soon  the  fiery  rain  ceased.  Our  sec 
ond  line  was  in  sight.  The  enemy  appeared  to  occupy 
another  ridge  fifteen  or  twenty  rods  in  front,  similar 
to  the  first,  and  like  that  covered  with  trees  and  a 
thick  undergrowth  of  brush,  the  usual  gully  and  rail 
fence  being  at  its  base.  While  preparations  were 
going  on  for  a  third  advance,  we  busied  ourselves  in 
ministering  to  the  wounded  and  dying. 

The  plan  adopted  was  for  the  second  line,  now  com 
paratively  fresh  and  a  short  distance  in  our  rear,  to 
rush  to  the  fence  and  tear  it  down.  The  Thirteenth 
Connecticut  and  First  Louisiana  were  to  follow  close 
ly,  charge  over  the  other  line  and  then  carry  the  place 
with  the  bayonet.  As  before,  not  a  shot  was  to  be 
fired.  We  could  not  afford  the  time.  A  brief  death- 
grapple  was  to  decide  the  conflict.  No  skirmishers. 

The  movement  commenced.  The  second  line 
moved  silently  forward.  The  Thirteenth  advanced 
quickly  about  five  rods  in  rear  of  the  other  line,  eager 
to  make  the  final  spring  and  finish  the  struggle.  But 
not  a  shot  greeted  us  !  The  enemy  had  vanished  ! 

Thenceforward  our  progress  to  Alexandria  could 


201 

hardly  be  seriously  impeded.  Flushed  with  victory 
the  Thirteenth  marched  with  streaming  banners  to 
Cane  River  Crossing. 

In  this  battle  the  Thirteenth  lost  but  one  officer  and 
twenty-four  enlisted  men  killed  and  wounded.  The 
whole  Union  loss  was  but  about  two  hundred.  Our 
experience  here  and  in  other  battles  proved  that  the 
bravest  policy  is  the  safest ;  and  the  number  of  killed 
and  wounded  is  no  criterion  whatever  of  the  gallantry 
of  a  regiment.  On  the  contrary,  a  large  list  of  killed 
and  wounded  oftener  indicates  the  opposite.  For 
nothing  is  so  fatal  as  retreating.  It  is  while  turning 
the  back  to  the  enemy,  or  running  away  helpless  and 
defenseless,  that  the  severest  losses  are  suffered,  and 
not  while  marching  straight  into  the  face  of  the  foe, 
giving  blows  as  well  as  taking  them.  So  true  is  the 
advice  of  Napoleon  :  "  Boys,  you  must  not  fear  death  ! 
When  soldiers  are  not  afraid  of  Death,  they  drive  him 
into  the  enemy's  ranks  /" 

Yet  in  this  sharp  conflict  we  lost  some  true  men. 
Meissner,  Reynolds,  Matthews,  Britz,  Garcia  and 
Gunter,  were  among  the  bravest  of  the  brave,  and 
gallantly  upheld  their  country's  flag.  They  died  vic 
torious,  while  their  comrades'  tears  mingled  with  huz- 
zahs ;  and  long  as  life  lasts,  will  their  memories  be 
cherished  and  revered. 

April  24,  at  ten  A.  M.,  we  marched  a  way  from  Cane 
River  Crossing.  The  sun  was  very  hot  and  the  road 
dusty.  We  moved  slowly  till  three  or  four  p.  M., 
forming  line  of  battle  twice  in  expectation  of  an  en 
gagement.  At  four  o'clock  we  commenced  marching 
fast.  We  entered  an  extensive  forest  of  large  pine 
trees,  the  passage  through  which  occupied  us  nearly 
18 


202 

four  hours.  Near  eight  o'clock  we  issued  from  the 
forest  and  marched  two  hours  in  the  darkness  in  a 
southerly  direction.  This  journey  was  very  fatiguing. 
Heavy  artillery  firing  at  intervals  during  the  day  told 
us  that  the  gallant  hero  of  Fort  De  Russy,  was  cover 
ing  our  retreat,  and  hurling  defiance  at  the  rebels  in 
our  rear. 

With  sorrow  and  shame  it  must  be  recorded  that 
our  march  was  lit  up  at  night  with  the  conflagration 
of  buildings  burnt  by  our  stragglers.  Large  rewards 
were  offered  by  General  Banks  for  the  conviction  of 
the  perpetrators  of  these  outrages. 

April  25,  at  nine  A.  M.,  we  started  again.  A' heavy 
rebel  force  was  reported  pressing  our  rear  guard,  and 
the  cannon  of  old  A.  J.  Smith,  who  seemed  the  very 
incarnation  of  war,  thundered  all  day.  At  one  time, 
the  firing  waxing  hot,  General  Banks  is  said  to  have 
sent  back  a  courier  to  inquire  if  he  needed  assistance, 
to  which  Smith  is  said  to  have  responded,  "  Go  to 

!     I've  just  whipped  three  thousand  and  I  can 

whip  thirty  thousand  !" 

Endless  rumors,  all  false,  reached  us,  of  the  capture 
of  Alexandria,  of  the  destruction  of  our  fleet,  of  A. 
J.  Smith  trapping  the  pursuing  enemy  by  thousands, 
of  the  advance  of  the  rebels  on  New  Orleans,  and  the 
like. 

The  wounded  officers  and  men  occupying  the  am 
bulances  and  wagons,  the  sick  and  the  exhausted  were 
obliged  to  drag  along  their  limbs  as  best  they  might. 
Some  of  our  men  were  killed  by  hard  marching.  This 
was  the  case  with  Corporal  James  Malone,  Company 
H,  one  of  the  most  faithful  and  uncomplaining  of 


203 

all.  He  sank  rapidly,  and  died  a  few  days  after 
reaching  Alexandria. 

We  marched  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  that  day,  the 
latter  portion  along  the  Bayou  Rapides,  and  reached 
Alexandria  at  nine  P.  M.  Here  we  groped  a  longtime 
in  the  intense  darkness  endeavoring  to  find  our  old 
camp  ground.  Few  of  us  will  ever  forget  the  weary 
hour  we  were  led  back  and  forth,  around  and  around, 
to  our  final  place  of  bivouac,  after  the  tiresome  work 
of  the  four  or  five  days  past.  We  were  too  much 
worn  out  to  enjoy  the  grand  scene  of  the  shelling  of 
the  woods  opposite  Alexandria  by  the  gunboats,  the 
extreme  darkness  lending  vividness  to  the  meteoric 
shower  that  streaked,  flashed  and  thundered  till  near 
midnight. 

April  26,  we  rested  and  were  broiled  in  the  sun 
without  shade  or  shelter.  Frequent  heavy  firing  an 
nounced  the  activity  of  General  Smith  or  the  gun 
boats  above  us  on  the  river ;  we  knew  not  which.  The 
whole  rebel  army  was  reported  arriving  to  give  us 
battle.  Alexandria  was  fortified  with  breastworks, 
redoubts  and  abattis,  the  streets  were  barricaded,  and 
everything  appeared  to  indicate  an  approaching  en 
gagement. 

April  27,  the  cannonade  was  continued  all  the 
morning,  and  appeared  to  be  coming  nearer.  April 
28,  the  arrival  of  General  McClernand  wa«  reported. 
Dr.  Clary  received  orders  from  the  Medical  Director 
to  take  possession  of  the  Ice-House  Hotel,  and  pre 
pare  it  for  the  reception  of  a  thousand  wounded. 

This  day  the  greater  portion  of  the  army  was  drawn 
up  in  two  vast  lines  of  battle  in  concentric  semi-circles 
half  a  mile  apart,  with  reserves  in  town.  Cavalry  and 


204 

infantry  pickets  and  scouts  were  on  every  side.  The 
Thirteenth  was  near  the  center  of  the  second  line. 
The  level  plains  in  rear  of  the  town  gave  us  a  fine 
view  of  the  lines.  We  were  never  in  higher  spirits 
than  this  day,  when  we  hoped  the  enemy  would  attack 
•  us  in  force.  We  did  not  ask  for  odds ;  but  wished 
that,  once  for  all,  they  would  meet  us  on  the  open 
field.  Hour  after  hour  we  awaited  their  attack  ;  but 
in  vain.  . 

They  chose  rather  to  blockade  the  river  below  Alex 
andria  and  cut  off  our  supplies.  At  night  the  great 
sugar  mill  and  adjoining  buildings  on  the  Bayou 
Rapides,  nearly  a  mile  from  Red  River  and  a  mile  from 
town,  were  set  on  fire.  The  flames  lit  up  Alexandria, 
and  semed  to  make  what  a  rebel  paper  termed  Harriet 
Beecher  Stowe,  a  "  pandemonium." 

This  day  Captain  Wells  was  sent  with  fifteen  men 
of. Company  I  to  conduct  a  hundred  rebel  prisoners 
on  the  steamer  Sat  lie  Robinson  to  New  Orleans.  Ex 
pecting  to  be  attacked  as  usual  by  guerillas,  Wells 
placed  the  rebels  conspicuously  on  the  hurricane  deck, 
making  a  sort  of  breast-work  of  the  "  grey-backs !" . 
He  was  not  fired  on  !  Returning,  he  reached  Fort 
DeRussy.  Here  authentic  reports  came  of  the  block 
ade  above,  and  fragments  of  gunboats  drifted  down  to 
confirm  it.  He  declined  to  advance  further,  but  soon 
joined  us  at  Simsport. 

April  29,  we  received  orders  to  cross  the  river  on 
the  pontoons  to  Pineville,  which  had  been  so  thorough 
ly  shelled  a  few  evenings  before.  We  passed  over 
after  dark  with  the  One  hundred  Fifty-ninth  New  York, 
First  Louisiana,  Cornwell's  Cavalry  and  a  section  of  a 
battery.  Colonel  Molineux,  being  in  command  of  the 


205 

whole,  sent  the  writer  at  ten  o'clock  P.  M.  to  post  a 
large  picket  around  the  brigade ;  a  work  which  requir 
ed  some  hours,  the  night  being  exceedingly  dark,  and 
the  woods  an  intricate  maze  of  lanes,  thickets,  marsh 
es  and  hillocks,  the  locality  utterly  unknown  and  the 
enemy  near.  Next  day  we  threw  up  strong  works. 

Every  morning  we  turned  out  under  arms,  half  an 
hour  before  light,  in  readiness  for  an  attack. 

Within  two  miles  of  us  was  the  State  Military  Acade 
my,  of  which  General  William  T.  Sherman  was  Prin 
cipal  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  war. 

We  lay  for  some  time  at  Pineville,  awaiting  the 
completion  of  the  great  dam  which  floated  off  the  gun 
boats.  The  plan  of  a  dam  to  raise  the  water  so  that 
Porter's  fleet  could  pass  over  the  rapids  was  discussed 
weeks  before  it  was  attempted.  The  writer  recollects 
that  before  we  left  Alexandria  for  Grand  Ecore,  an 
"intelligent  contraband"  suggested  almost  the  precise 
mode  that  was  afterwards  adopted.  The  river  was 
made  to  pass  through  a  narrow  space  between  the  two 
ends  of  the  dam.  On  the  eighth  of  May  two  Monitors 
floated  through.  That  night,  or  early  the  next  morn 
ing,  it  broke,  and  several  days  were  required  to  re 
build  it. 

May  1,  Lieut.  Kinney  was  detailed  as  Acting  Signal 
Officer. 

May  4,  heavy  firing  was  heard.  Fighting  was 
vaguely  reported  on  the  Bayou  Rapides.  May  5,  rapid 
and  continuous  artillery  discharges  were  heard  down 
the  river.  At  night  ten  or  a  dozen  persons  arrived  at 
our  camp,  who  had  escaped  from  the  gunboat  Coving- 
ton  and  the  steamer  John  Warner,  which  had  that 
morning  been  captured  and  destroyed  by  the  rebels 
18* 


206 

twenty  or  thirty  miles  below  Alexandria.  Some  of 
them  were  wounded.  Dr.  Clark  supplied  them  with 
refreshments  and  surgical  treatment.  General  Nick 
er  son,  who  had  started  with  his  brigade  to  march 
down  the  bank  of  the  stream,  returned  on  learning  of 
the  disaster. 

The  situation  began  to  be  interesting  if  not  alarm 
ing.  The  river  was  completely  blockaded  by  the 
rebels,  who  sunk  steamers  in  such  a  way  as  to  obstruct 
the  channel,  and  erected  batteries  to  throw  plunging 
shot  down  through  the  decks.  A  large  force  was 
known  to  be  concentrating  between  us  and  the  Missis 
sippi.  We  had  no  doubt  we  could  cut  our  way 
through,  but  we  did  not  like  to  have  our  enemies  stop 
our  supplies  and  force  us  into  action  prematurely. 

Being  short  of  forage,  orders  were  issued  that  the 
horses  should  be  supplied,  as  far  as  practicable,  by 
pasturage.  Alexandria  was  fortified.  We  were  curi 
ous  to  know  whether  it  would  be  retained  or  abandon 
ed.  If  not  worth  keeping,  why  should^we  have  cap 
tured  it  ? 

May  9,  Banks's  purpose  became  evident.  All  the 
gunboats  were  to  be  got  below  [the  dam,  and  the 
whole  army  and  navy  were  to  move.  Orders  came  to 
hold  the  Thirteenth  ready  to  march  at  two  hours'  no 
tice.  No  baggage  in  wagon  was  to  be  allowed. 

May  10,  Col.  Fisk,  Col.  Sprague  and  other  field 
officers  were  ordered  to  remove  all  cotton  from  trans 
port  steamers,  and  load  them  with  army  stores ;  an 
order  that  brought  many  a  worshiper  of  the  "  south 
ern  king"  to  grief!  General IMcMillan  was  in  com 
mand  of  this  working  party.  His  instructions  were 
explicit:  "Fling  overboard  every  d pound  of 


207 

cotton,  and  fling  the  d proprietors  over  after  it !" 

Till  past  midnight  we  labored,  throwing  off  the  regal 
fabric  and  loading  with  army  stores  the  "  Ginnie 
Hopkins"  "  Silver  Wave"  and  other  steamboats. 

May  11,  the  regiment  marched  with  the  First  Lou 
isiana  and  One  hundred  Fifty-ninth  New  York,  under 
Colonel  Molineux,  seven  miles  along  the  right  bank. 
As  we  halted,  General  Grover  and  staff  came  riding 
up  at  considerable  speed.  He  ordered  us  to  return 
three  miles.  At  three  o'clock  next  morning  we  were 
under  arms  in  line  of  battle.  Lord  Byron  sat  up  all 
night  to  see  the  sun  rise  !  There  were  good  reasons 
why  we  should  not  wish  to  be  caught  napping.  At 
seven  o'clock  this  P.  M.  the  "  long  roll,"  as  potent  if 
not  as  sweet  as  the  music  of  Orpheus,  brought  the 
brigade  in  a  twinkling  into  line  of  battle.  Our  pickets 
exchanged  shots  with  the  enemy.  Orders  came  to 
move  at  seven  next  morning. 

May  13,  we  moved  at  nine,  and  marched  slowly  seven 
or  eight  miles  along  the  river.  The  day  was  'sultry. 
Cannonading  was  heard  in  the  distance.  The  rear  of 
the  army  left  Alexandria.  That  portion  of  the  town 
next  the  river  was  fired  by  some  such  vandals  as  dis 
grace  every  army,  and  a  terrible  conflagration  ensued. 

At  six  A.  M.,  May  14,  we  resumed  our  march. 
Heavy  skirmishing  went  on  the  first  hour  in  front  and 
on  the  right  flank,  as  indicated  by  the  incessant  rattle 
and  smoke  of  small  arms.  We  made  fifteen  miles, 
holding  ourselves  in  readiness  to  form  line  at  any  mo 
ment.  Before  dark  we  arrived  at  the  point  where  the 
Confederates  had  destroyed  and  sunk  several  of  our 
gunboats  and  transports  across  the  channel.  Articles 
innumerable  had  been  brought  ashore  and  scattered 


208 

every  where  along  the  banks.  Among  other  things 
were  the  remnants  of  a  large  mail  we  had  sent  a  few 
days  before.  Capt.  McCord  found  his  Ordnance  Re 
turns.  Several  soldiers  recovered  letters  they  had 
written  home.  The  writer  looked  in  vain  among  the 
scattered  documents  for  an  account  of  the  battle  of 
Cane  River,  which  he  had  sent  a  few  days  before  for 
a  Connecticut  newspaper,  and  which  was  probably  at 
that  time  edifying  a  select  circle  of  rebels.  Here  were 
gun-carriages  burning ;  and  rifle-pits,  lunes  and  breast 
works.  Here,  too,  were  fresh  camp-fires,  where  the 
"  Johnnies"  had  roasted  their  meat  and  baked  their 
inevitable  corn-bread. , 

At  eight  o'clock  next  morning,  Sunday,  we  left  Red 
River,  and  marched  southeast  two  or  three  miles 
through  the  woods  to  a  little  bayou,  where  we  halt 
ed  an  hour  till  a  pontoon  bridge  was  thrown 
across,  when  we  passed  over,  and  continued  our  ad 
vance.  Hot  skirmishing  soon  commenced.  We  mov 
ed  slowly  and  cautiously  several  miles  through  a 
forest,  and  reached  an  extensive  open  plain  skirted 
with  woodland.  Here  we  formed  line  of  battle,  our 
brigade  immediately  supporting  the  cavalry,  who  were 
skirmishing  heavily  in  full  view  of  us.  As  the  brig 
ades  successively  arrived,  they  formed  on  the  colors 
to  right  and  left.  The  batteries  moved  at  a  gallop 
and  threw  themselves  into  position,  while  the  squad 
rons  of  cavalry  hovered  lightly  to  and  fro  as  if  on 
wings.  The  scene  was  one  of  extraordinary  beauty. 
There  was  ceaseless  clatter  of  musketry  like  the  pop 
ping  of  corn  when  a  thousand  kernels  burst  into 
whiteness.  The  far-stretching  cloud  of  smoke  in  front 
of  us,  and  anon  the  heavy  round-shot  falling  like  the 


209 

first  big  drops  of  a  summer  shower,  gave  indication 
of  an  approaching  storm. 

The  enemy  largely  outnumbered  us  in  cavalry. 
Prisoners  and  deserters  reported  that  they  had  fifteen 
pieces  of  artillery,  twenty-five  hundred  infantry,  and 
twenty-two  regiments  of  cavalry  ;  the  last  under  com 
mand  of  the  celebrated  Prince  Polignac. 

When  our  dispositions  were  completed,  we  made  a 
general  advance  in  line  of  battle.  The  sight  inspired 
us  with  the  feeling  of  irresistible  strength. 

"  The  host  moves  like  the  deep  sea  wave, 
Where  rise  no  rocks  its  pride  to  brave  ; 
High-swelling,  dark  and  slow." 

The  enemy  prudently  declined  a  pitched  battle,  but 
retired,  obstinately  skirmishing,  knowing  their  superi 
ority  in  mounted  troops. 

We  drove  them  through  Marksville.  Our  cavalry 
occupied  the  town  just  before  sunset,  the  infantry 
halting  half  an  hour  before  dusk  in  the  suburbs.  We 
improved  the  time  by  attempting  to  replenish  our 
canteens.  The  soldiers  began  to  boil  a  little  coffee. 
They  had  suffered  severely,  the  black  muddy  water  of 
the  occasional  shallow  circular  pools  seeming  to  aggra 
vate  rather  than  allay  thirst.  General  Grover,  com 
manding  our  division,  had  placed  a  squad  of  guards 
over  the  large  rain-water  cistern  nearest  us  in  the 
edge  of  the  village  at  a  house  he  had  just  selected  as 
his  head-quarters.  Our  men  were  swearing  lustily  at 
being  deprived  of  the  precious  beverage,  which  the 
writer  and  other  officers  were  endeavoring  to  procure 
for  them,  when  up  rode  Captain  Finley,  Co.  G,  then 
on  Grover's  staff  as  Division  Mustering  Officer.  'He 


210 

communicated  orders  to  Col.  Molineux  to  move  his, 
the  second,  brigade  instantly  with  all  speed  to  the 
front,  for  the  enemy  were  driving  our  cavalry  back. 
"I  asked  the  General,"  said  Finley,  "if  I  should  not 
bring  the  first  brigade,  as  it  lay  nearer."  He  answer 
ed,  "No;  the  first  brigade  is  too  small,  too'd 

small !     I  want  the  second  brigade." 

"Fall  in!  Fall  in!"  echoed  instantly  along  the 
brigade  line.  Leaving  the  steaming  coffee,  we  were 
off  without  a  moment's  delay.  By  the  right  flank  at  a 
double-quick  we  penetrated  the  town,  traversed  the 
length  of  the  main  street,  more  than  two  miles  through 
choking  dust.  "  File  right!*  and  out  into  the  open 
plain  we  rushed,  guns  on  the  right  shoulder,  at  the 
same  rapid  pace.  Winding  along  like  a  huge  serpent 
with  glittering  scales  and  the  banners  of  the  Thir 
teenth  for  his  crest,  we  moved  parallel  to  our  cavalry 
line  which  was  just  ahead  of  us  and  actively  engaged. 
The  enemy  shelled  us.  "  Halt !  Front !  Fix  bayo 
nets  !"  rang  out  the  stentorian  voice  of  Col.  Molineux. 
Grover  came  up  at  the  instant.  "  Boys,"  said  he, 
"  very  likely  the  cavalry  will  charge  you.  If  they  do, 
take  it  cool.  Fire  by  rank.  Remember  the  rear  rank 
fires  first."  The  Thirteenth  answered  with  a  tremen 
dous  hurrah,  which  our  cavalry  caught  up  and  repeat 
ed.  The  enemy  replied  with  one  of  their  peculiar 
yells,  like  the  screech  of  a  thousand  wildcats. 

But  they  did  not  charge.  It  was  getting  dark. 
Our  cavalry  knowing  they  were  now  supported,  plied 
their  Spencer  carbines  with  unwonted  vigor.  The 
batteries  on  both  sides  got  at  work ;  the  vivid,  unin 
terrupted  sparkle  and  infinite  roll  of  fire-arms,  and 


211 

the  shouting  of  the  combatants,  clearly  revealing  the 
hostile  position  in  the  deepening  darkness. 

At  ten  o'clock  the  battle  ceased.  We  lay  on  our 
muskets  in  line,  utterly  exhausted  by  the  severe  or 
deal.  A  long  march  without  dinner  or  supper  had 
been  followed  by  three  miles  at  a  double-quick,  while 
the  men's  feet  were  raw  with  blisters,  their  tongues 
parched  with  thirst,  their  throats  and  nostrils  filled 
with  stifling  dust.  Yet  hardly  a  man  of  the  Thirteenth 
had  fallen  behind,  though  the  extraordinary  haste  of 
the  movement  betokened  savage  work  ahead,  and  the 
rebel  artillery  sent  us  its  howling  defiance.  We  sank 
to  sleep,  and  never  was  rest  sweeter. 

Morning  came,  beautifully  clear  and  sunny.  The 
enemy  had  retired  a  mile  or  two,  and  were  drawn  up 
to  give  us  battle  on  Mansura  Plains.  We  moved  at 
once.  As  on  the  day  before,  the  cavalry  preceded, 
and  our  brigade  led  the  infantry.  Arriving  in  sight 
of  the  enemy,  Grover's  division  was  deployed  in  two 
lines.  General  A.  J.  Smith,  looking  like  the  very  god 
of  war,  was  sent  to  make  a  detour  to  the  right.  The 
rest  of  the  infantry  was  drawn  up  in  successive  lines 
and  massed  columns.  The  plain  was  immense;  slight 
ly  rolling  and  fringed  with  trees  on  three  sides.  Fen 
ces  obstructing  our  advance,  Grover  commanded,  "  By 
the  right  of  regiments  to  the  front ;"  and  the  line  im 
mediately  broke  into  beautiful  moving  parallels,  which 
advanced  steadily  under  an  artillery  fire  from  the 
front  and  right.  Reaching  ground  that  permitted  it, 
the  regiments  again  came  into  a  magnificent  line  of 
battle.  The  artillery  duel  waxing  warm,  Grover's 
line  was  halted.  Fox's  battery  on  the  right  of  the 
Thirteenth,  and  a  section  of  Rogers's  on  the  left, 


212 

maintained  a  steady  cannonade.  Our  regiment  was 
mostly  in  rear  of  a  rail  fence,  which  stood  on  a  bank 
of  earth  a  foot  high.  This  afforded  protection  to  those 
who  preferred  to  lie  down,  as  most  of  us  did,  while 
the  rifled  projectiles  were  screaming  and  bursting.  A 
considerable  number,  however,  mounted  the  fence, 
unable  to  restrain  their  curiosity  to  gaze  on  the  truly 
sublime  display.  Glancing  back,  almost  the  whole 
army  was  seen,  resplendent  in  steel  and  brass ;  miles 
of  lines  and  columns ;  the  cavalry  gliding  over  the 
ground  in  the  distance  with  a  delicate,  nimble  light 
ness  of  innumerable  twinkling  feet ;  a  few  batteries 
enveloped  in  smoke  and  incessantly  thundering,  others 
dashing  swiftly  to  salient  positions ;  division  and  corps 
commanders  with  their  staff  officers  clustering  about 
them,  watching  through  their  glasses  the  hostile 
army ;  couriers  riding  swiftly  from  wing  to  wing  ; 
everywhere  the  beautiful  silken  flags  ;  and  the  scene 
ever  changing  with  the  involutions  and  evolutions  of 
the  vast  host! 

"  'Twere  worth  ten  years  of  peaceful  life, 
One  glance  at  their  array  !" 

To  us  the  spectacle  was  thrilling  and  glorious :  to 
the  enemy  it  must  have  given  point  to  the  scripture 
simile,  "  terrible  as  an  army  with  banners." 

While  we  were  impatiently  awaiting  the  order  to 
charge,  there  were  many  narrow  escapes  from  death, 
the  enemy  having  a  cross  fire  on  us.  But  no  man  of 
the  Thirteenth  was  seriously  injured  that  day.  In 
the  midst  of  the  battle  General  Grover  rode  rapidly 
straight  out  in  front  of  the  Thirteenth  some  fifty  rods. 
Halting  on  a  little  knoll  in  full  view  of  both  armies, 


213 

he  raised  his  glass  to  his  eyes  and  looked  long  and 
steadily  at  the  rebel  position,  heedless  of  the  hissing 
of  bombs.  Making  a  signal,  Fox's  battery  galloped 
to  the  spot,  and  immediately  opened  a  fire  of  spherical 
ease.  At  the  same  instant,  far  to  the  right,  we  recog 
nized  the  familiar  sound  of  A.  J.  Smith's  cannon, 
always  rapid  and  tremendous.  Grover's  division  now 
rushed  to  the  charge.  The  enemy  wavered,  broke, 
and  we  saw  them  in  rapid  retreat.  We  followed  them 
closely  four  miles,  but  their  preponderance  of  cavalry 
enabled  them  to  make  good  their  escape  without 
heavy  loss.  Prisoners  reported  the  celebrated  Polig-' 
nac  among  the  wounded. 

After  the  battle  we  marched  leisurely  to  Bayou 
Rouge,  and  thence  to  Bayou  de  Grlaze,  on  the  bank  of 
which  we  encamped,  six  or  eight  miles  from  Simsport. 

Next  morning,  May  17, 1864,  we  marched  at  seven 
o'clock,  reaching  Simsport  at  noon.  It  was  along 
this  identical  bayou  that  we  had  marched  exactly  one 
year  before,  on  our  way  to  Port  Hudson.  A  mile 
from  Simsport,  we  passed  some  new  and  strong  fortifi 
cations  on  Yellow  Bayou,  the  principal  of  which  was 
called  Fort  Lafayette.  The  rebels  evacuated  them  at 
our  approach. 

The  wagon  train  was  attacked  this  day,  to  the  great 
discomfort  of  our  new  Quartermaster,  Bishop  ;  whose 
strenuous  exertions,  however,  preserved  the  baggage 
of  the  Thirteenth. 

A  slight  rain  fell  next  morning.  The  weather  was 
hot  at  noon,  when  a  very  sharp  artillery  firing  was 
heard,  apparently  two  or  three  miles  west  of  us,  said 
to  be  on  Yellow  Bayou.  Here  an  attack  of  the  enemy 
in  force  was  handsomely  repulsed.  Our  loss  was 
19 


214 

about  two  hundred  killed  and  wounded ;  that  of  the 
enemy,  much  greater.. 

At  one  o'clock  we  moved  across  the  Atchafalaya  on 
a  magnificent  bridge  of  twenty  large  steamboats,  lying 
side  by  side.  Another  such  bridge  this  country  has 
rarely  if  ever  seen.  We  went  into  camp  on  precisely 
the  same  ground  as  a  year  ago  that  day.  "At  eleven 
o'clock  at  night  there  was  an  alarm.  We  "  fell  in," 
and  were  moved  two  miles  up  the  river  bank. 

At  five  o'.clock  next  morning,  orders  came  to  march 
instantly  in  light  order  to  battle.  We  proceeded  a 
mile  and  a  half  to  support  our  troops  in  case  the  at 
tack  by  the  enemy  should  be  renewed.  In  the  after 
noon  we  marched  two  miles  above  the  Sims  house  and 
bivouaced. 

At  six  o'clock  P.  M.,  May  20, 1864,  we  were  sudden 
ly  ordered  to  fall  in  to  march  immediately.  We 
left  at  seven  and  a  half,  and  marched  till  midnight, 
making  about  twelve  miles  towards  Morganza.  At 
eight  A.  M.,  next  day,  we  marched  again  through  ter 
rible  heat  and  dust  to  a  point  just  above  Morganza, 
on  the  Mississippi.  Several  men,  one  of  whom  was 
.private  Klein,  Co.  B,  were  sun-struck.  The  sight  of 
the  great  swift-rolling  stream  was  hailed  with  loud 
and  long-continued  shouts.  It  was  like  looking  on  a 
powerful  friend,  whose  protection  we  needed  and  in 
whom  we  could  perfectly  confide,  but  whose  face  we 
had  feared  we  should  see  no  more. 

We  lay  at  Morganza  several  weeks  in  "  a  camp 
chiefly  memorable  for  its  dust  and  intense  heat."  The 
army  extended  several  miles  along  the  right  bank  of 
the  river.  The  fine  penetrating  dust  by  day,  and  the 
musquitoes  by  night,  were  two  great  and  constant 


.      215 

plagues.     The  enemy  hovered  in  small  parties  about 
our  camps,  sometimes  driving  in  our  pickets. 

May  29,  a  hostile  force  was  reported  approaching. 
The  regiment  fell  in  under  arms,  with  orders  to  be  in 
readiness  to  march  at  a  moment's  notice.  No  attack 
was  made. 

June  1,  the  regiment  received  orders  to  go  with  the 
brigade  into  camp  a  mile  and  a  half  down  the  river, 
in  a  thicket  of  young  willows,  poplars,  and  cotton- 
woods.  Welcfome  enough  was  this:'  announcement ; 
for  we  had  lain  ten  days  without  much  shelter  on  the 
scorching  sand,  constantly  powdered  by  the  fine  dust, 
and  amidst  the  unceasing  din  and  tramp  of  hundreds 
of  men  and  animals.  A  fatigue  party  cleared  and 
prepared  the  narrow  regimental  streets  in  the  dense 
growth.  The  Thirteenth  Connecticut,  One  hundred 
Fifty-ninth  New  York,  and  First  Louisiana  moved 
next  day  to  the  new  grounds  on  the  river  bank.  The 
soldiers  ingeniously  constructed  bowers  and  beds  of 
the  slender  trees,  and  enjoyed  the  delicious  shade. 
The  principal  draw-back  was  the  swarming  insects,  to 
which  no  language  can  do  justice. 

June  3,  4,  5,  6,  8,  we  had  copious  showers.  A 
large  detachment  of  the  Thirteenth  was  daily  sent  on 
picket  duty. 

June  6,  reports  came  of  fighting  between  the  irregu 
lar  troops  of  the  enemy  and  one  of  our  gunboats,  above 
us  near  Morganza  ;  an  affair  of  frequent  occurrence. 

June  8,  the  Fourteenth  New  Hampshire  arrived, 
bringing  an  immense  quantity  of  baggage  and  nice 
new  clothes.  They  were  brigaded  with  us;  their 
Colonel,  Wilson,  assuming  command  by  right  of  seni 
ority.  Their  men,  who  had  never  seen  active  service, 


216 

looked  with  evident  alarm  upon  the  rough  veterans 
of  the  Thirteenth.  They  could  not  believe  that  just 
two  years  before,  we  were  "Butler's  dandy  regiment," 
and  wore  finer  clothes,  and  whiter  gloves,  and  brighter 
boots  than  they. 

June  10,  the  Nineteenth  Corps  was  reviewed  at 
four  P.  M.  by  General  Emory,  two  and  a  half  miles 
from  our  camp.  A  heavy  shower  thoroughly  drench 
ed  the  army  during  the  parade. 

The  two  great  questions  with  the  regiment  in  these 
days  were  :  "  What  will  be  the  success  of  Grant  in 
Virginia  ?"  and  "  When  will  the  Thirteenth  receive 
its  Veteran  Furlough  ?" 

June  14,  General  Sickles  reviewed  all  the  troops  at 
Morganza. 

June  18,  Paymaster,  Major  Mann,  made  his  wished- 
for  advent.  The  officers  had  found  it  difficult  to  sub 
sist,  prices  being  enormous  and  money  scarce.  Pota 
toes  were  sold  us  by  the  sutlers  at  twelve  dollars  a 
bushel.  Some  of  our  officers  pretended  to  trace  the 
pedigree  of  these  sharp  traders  back  to  the  Garden  of 
Eden,  quoting,  "  Now  the  serpent  was  more  subtler 
than  any  beast  of  the  field !" 

June  19,  the  enemy  were  reported  in  force  at  Tu 
nica  Bend  and  old  Fort  Adams.  We  moved  up  to 
give  them  battle.  The  Thirteenth  embarked  at  ten 
p.  M.  on  the  steamer  Ohio  Belle,  with  the  One  hun 
dred  Fifty-ninth  New  York,  and  a  detachment  of  cav 
alry.  Several  transports  and  gunboats  accompanied 
us,  all  being  loaded  with  troops.  We  steamed  up  the 
Mississippi  to  Tunica  Bend,  where,  next  day,  we  sent 
a  detachment  ashore.  They  encountered  a  small  party 
of  guerillas,  and  made  a  few  prisoners.  At  night  we 


217 

moved  up  to  Fort  Adams,  where  we  disembarked  at 
six  A.  M.,  June  21,  and  sent  scouts  in  different  direc 
tions.  The  enemy  had  fled.  No  trace  of  them  could 
be  seen  from  the  summit  of  the  hill,  several  hundred 
feet  high,  on  the  slope  of  which  the  old  fort  stands. 
The  officers  who  climbed  to  the  top  gained  an  exten 
sive  and  enchanting  prospect  of  the  surrounding 
country. 

At  five  P.  M.  we  re-entered  the  steamer  and  quickly 
returned  to  our  camp  near  Morganza.  We  reached 
it  at  ten  P.  M.,  pretty  thoroughly  baked  by  the  heat; 
for  a  Mississippi  steamer,  crowded  with  troops  at  this 
season,  is  an  oven. 

June  26,  the  Second  Division  was  brigaded  anew; 
the  Second  Brigade  comprising  the  Thirteenth  Con 
necticut,  One  hundred  Thirty-first  New  York,  One 
hundred  Fifty-ninth  New  York,  First  Louisiana,  and 
Third  Massachusetts  Cavalry. 

July  2,  orders  came  for  our  brigade  to  be  in  readi 
ness  to  go  at  an  hour's  notice  on  board  steamer  for 
New  Orleans..  At  ten  P.  M.  the  Thirteenth  embarked 
on  the  large  new  boat,  Mollie  Able.  The  sick  of  the 
division  were  left  in  care  of  Dr.  Clark  at  Morganza. 
It  will  be  recollected  that  in  the  haste  of  departure 
the  Dr.'s  celebrated  mule  disappeared ;  also  Col. 
Sprague's  famous  high-spirited  sorrel  mare,  with  sore 
back;  a  loss  that  nearly  broke  Noah's  heart! 

That  night  and  all  next  day  we  glided  down  the 
river,  reaching  New  Orleans  at  ten  P.  M.,  July  3. 
Next  day  at  ten  we  went  into  camp  in  Algiers. 

Great  dissatisfaction  existing  because  our  veteran 
volunteers  were  not  allowed  the  promised  furlough 
of  thirty  days  in  Connecticut,  though  six  months  had 
19* 


218 

elapsed  since  re-enlistment,  and  some  had  been  killed 
in  battle  and  others  had  died  in  hospital,  the  writer, 
upon  the  solicitation  of  several  officers,  drew  up  an 
earnest  petition  that  the  furlough  might  be  granted 
forthwith.  This  application,  at  first  opposed  by  seve 
ral  officers,  was  finally  signed  by  all.  It  was  granted. 

Accordingly,  July  18,  orders  came  for  the  veteran 
volunteers,  and  a  portion  of  the  non-veterans  to  em 
bark  on  the  screw  steamer  Cumbria,  Captain  Blanch- 
ard,  with  sealed  orders.  At  noon,  July  14,  we  went 
on  board ;  leaving  a  hundred  and  fifty  non-veterans 
at  Algiers  under  Capt.  Wells.  The  captain  was  him 
self  a  veteran,  but  had  been  in  the  North  much  of  the 
time  for  a  year  before. 

These  non-veterans  remained  a  week  in  Algiers. 
They  then  went  aboard  the  Karnak  for  Fortress  Mon 
roe,  and  thence  to  Washington.  They  proceeded  to 
Tenally town  where  they  remained  two  or  three  days ; 
thence  to  Washington,  where  they  took  the  cars  for 
Monocacy  Junction.  Here  they  joined  the  Twelfth 
Connecticut,  and  remained  about  a  week.  Thence 
they  went  by  rail  to  Harpers  Ferry,  and  lay  one  night 
on  Maryland  Heights.  Thence  they  advanced  to 
Halltown,  where  they  remained  some  days ;  thence 
to  Cedar  Creek ;  thence  back  to  Winchester ;  thence 
again  to  Berry ville.  Much  of  the  time  they  were  in 
presence  of  the  enemy,  and  are  said  to  have  behaved 
well.  Private  Reltrath  was  captured.  They  finally  re 
joined  the  veterans  early  in  September  near  Berryville. 

At  two  P.  M.,  July  14,  we  bade  a  final  adieu  to 
New  Orleans.  The  paymaster  paid  the  men  on  board, 
and  accompanied  us  as  far  as  Quarantine.  At  dawn, 
July  15,  we  passed  the  bar  at  the  mouth  of  the  river. 


219 

and  the  regiment  saw  the  receding  shores  of  Louisia 
na  for  the  last  time.  The  sealed  orders,  when  opened, 
were  found  to  command  Colonel  Blinn  to  leave  the 
non-veterans  at  Fortress  Monroe,  and  proceed  with 
the  veterans  to  Hartford. 

Our  progress  on  the  Cumbria  was  slow.  July  23, 
we  reached  Fortress  Monroe  at  eight  A.  M.  Here  the 
non-veterans,  about  sixty  in  number,  were  left  under 
command  of  Lieutenants  Miner  and  Squires.  They 
soon  joined  the  Twelfth  Connecticut  for  temporary 
duty.  At  ten  P.  M.  we  steamed  away  from  Fortress 
Monroe.  July  25,  we  came  in  sight  of  the  heights  of 
Neversink.  Soon  the  machinery,  which  had  been 
several  times  out  of  working  order,  broke  down  alto 
gether,  and  we  were  obliged  to  rely  wholly  upon  sails. 
A  tug  finally  towed  us  in.  A  refreshing  supply  of 
coffee  and  soft  bread  was  brought  to  the  soldiers  by 
the  efficient  State  Agent,  Colonel  J.  H.  Almy,  while 
we  lay  at  anchor.  The  regiment  was  transferred  to 
the  Sound  steamer  Elm  City,  and  arrived  at  the  New 
Haven  landing  before  light,  July  27. 

A  cordial  reception  was  tendered  by  the  citizens  of 
New  Haven,  and  the  veterans  marched  through  the 
streets  to  the  sound  of  music,  bells  and  cannon,  and 
under  the  escort  of  the  Governor's  Horse-Guards  and 
other  local  military  companies.  At  the  State  House, 
where  a  bountiful  collation  had  been  provided  us  by 
the  beauty  and  patriotism  of  New  Haven,  eloquent 
speeches  of  welcome  were  made  by  Governor  Buck 
ingham,  Mayor  Tyler  and  others.  The  arms  and  accou 
trements  were  stored  in  the  State  House,  and  the  vete 
rans  dispersed  under  orders  to  re-assemble  at  the 
recruiting  rendezvous  in  Fair  Haven,  on  the  twenty- 
seventh  of  August,  1864. 


CHAPTER    Y I . 

THE  happy  days  of  our  veteran  furlough  flew  swift 
ly  by.  The  regiments  that  had  preceded  us,  had 
each  enjoyed  several  months  in  the  State.  It  was 
universally  expected  that  the  same  would  be  the  case 
with  the  Thirteenth.  Consequently  there  was  much 
delay  in  assembling  at  the  rendezvous.  But  the 
pressing  necessity  for  more  troops  at  the  front  de 
feated  their  hopes  of  an  extension  of  the  holidays. 
The  Thirteenth  was  wanted  immediately  in  the  She- 
nandoah  Valley. 

On  the  twenty-ninth  of  August  those  who  had 
assembled  at  the  recruiting  station  in  Fair  Haven, 
only  eighteen  officers  and  one  hundred  and  forty  men, 
were  ordered  immediately  away.  At  eleven  at  night 
we  embarked  on  the  steamer  Continental,  leaving  be 
hind  Major  Comstock  and  the  remainder  of  the  veter 
ans.  At  five  A.  M.  we  arrived  in  New  York.  From 
Jersey  City  at  four  P.  M.  we  took  the  cars  for  Phila 
delphia,  where  we  arrived  at  ten  and  a  half  P.  M.,  and 
received  a  good  collation  at  that  model  establishment 
of  its  kind,  "  The  Union  Volunteer  Refreshment 
Rooms."  At  one  o'clock  at  night  we  took  the  train 
for  Baltimore,  where  we  arrived  early  in  the  morning. 
August  31.  Here  we  were  furnished  a  lunch  at 
"  The  Soldiers'  Rest.  Again  taking  the  cars  we 
reached  Washington  at  four  p.  M. 

Next  day  at  noon,  we  left  Washington.  The  cars 
moved  slowly  to  the  Relay  House  and  thence  to  Har 
pers  Ferry,  where  we  arrived  about  midnight.  We 


221 

remained  in  the  cars  until  day,  when  Colonel  Blinn 
crossed  the  bridge  to  report  for  orders.  Captain 
Averill,  "  formerly  Lieutenant  of  old  D,"  in  leaping 
from  the  cars,  sprained  his  foot,  and  was  left  in  hos 
pital. 

After  waiting  till  five  P.  M.  we  marched  across  the 
bridge  into  and  through  the  village,  and  up  the  long 
steep  hill  past  the  fortifications.  Going  through  Hall- 
town,  we  moved  four  or  five  miles  towards  Charles- 
town  and  bivouaced.  The  road  was  very  dusty  ;  the 
soldiers  *tired.  Report  reached  us  that  Capt.  Wells, 
whom  we  had  left  in  Algiers,  lay  sick  in  Hospital  at 
Sandy  Hook  below  Harpers  Ferry,  and  that  the  non- 
veterans  had  done  good  service  with  the  rest  of  the 
Nineteenth  Corps  in  saving  Washington  during  the 
dark  days  of  August. 

Next  morning,  Septembers,  1864,  at  eight  A.  M. 
the  regiment  left  its  place  of  bivouac,  and  marched 
rapidly  forward.  We  passed  the  jail  where  John 
Brown  was  confined ;  the  court  house  where  he  had 
his  trial  as  he  lay  bleeding  and  helpless ;  the  field, 
rendered  forever  historic  by  the  offering  of  his  life  for 
the  liberty  of  the  African  race.  Five  years  had  not 
passed  ;  but  the  edict  of  freedom  for  that  race  had 
been  proclaimed  at  Washington,  and  a  million  bayo 
nets  were  putting  it  in  force  *  The  martyr's  body 
indeed  lay  mouldering  in  its  lowly  grave  at  North 
Elba ;  but  with  what  gigantic  strides  his  soul  was 
marching  on  ! 

Our  army  had  this  day  set  out  to  fight  the  enemy. 
We  passed  the  baggage  wagons  which  had  been  or 
dered  out  of  the  way  of  battle.  We  must  hasten,  or 
be  too  late,  and  there  were  those  in  our  regiment 


222 

who  thought  it  a  disgrace  to  have  a  fight  and  the 
Thirteenth  not  to  be  in  it.  Others  felt  differently. 

Corporal  Strange,  Co.  F,  at  our  first  halt  this  day, 
shot  off  the  first  two  fingers  of  his  right  hand.  Such 
an  accident  had  not  occurred  in  the  Thirteenth  since 
Port  Hudson,  where  it  was  quite  common  for  soldiers 
of  some  regiments  to  shoot  off  the  right  fore-finger. 

By  a  forced  march  the  Thirteenth  that  afternoon 
reached  the  army,  some  twenty  miles  from  Harpers 
Ferry  and  two  from  Berry ville.  We  halted  on  the 
left  of  the  pike.  Within  two  hours  we  were  ordered 
forward  into  battle  as  a  part  of  Molineux's  brigade. 
The  enemy  had  fallen  back  in  good  order  from  Charles- 
town  as  we  advanced,  and  were  making  a  stand  on 
the  road  from  Berryville  to  Winchester.  About  two 
divisions  of  troops  on  each  side  were  engaged.  The 
transition  from  the  quiet  and  cheerful  scenes  of  home 
to  the  smoke-wrapped  fields  and  hellish  noise  of  war 
was  rather  startling  ;  but  the  Thirteenth  went  in  with 
its  accustomed  alacrity.  We  crossed  the  pike  and 
advanced  under  an  artillery  fire  to  the  front  and 
right,  where  the  musketry  was  raging.  Halting  in 
brigade  line,  the  Thirteenth  were  sheltered  by  a  slight 
rise  in  the  ground,  while  the  enemy's  shot  and  shell 
passed  over  us  to  the  road  on  our  left.  Night  closed 
round  us,  only  illunrlfaed  by  the  flashing  powder.  The 
shelling  and  the  musketry  firing  in  the  darkness  re 
called  many  similar  scenes  in  Louisiana.  Rain  com 
menced  falling  and  stopped  the  fighting.  We  lay  in 
line  on  the  battle-field — a  hard  night  for  the  Thir 
teenth. 

Next  morning  the  contest  was  renewed  with  artil 
lery  ;  the  firing  being  very  brisk  half  a  mile  in  front 


223 

of  us.  The  enemy  soon  gave  way  and  withdrew  to 
wards  the  Opequan  Creek,  which  crosses  the  Win 
chester  pike. 

Retiring  quarter  of  a  mile  our  brigade  commenced 
throwing  up  breastworks.  The  same  was  done  along 
the  entire  line  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps.  While 
busied  in  this  work,  the  writer  was  detailed  at  half- 
past  two  as  field-officer  of  the  day.  Taking  out  the 
relief  of  seventy-five  men,  we  met  our  pickets  and 
sharpshooters  in  full  retreat.  A  rebel  battalion  in 
line  with  colors  flying  had  attacked  and  driven  them 
in.  The  enemy  were  closely  following.  Deploying, 
we  succeeded  in  arresting  the  retrograde  movement. 
Several  companies  arriving  as  re-enforcements,  we 
re-established  the  picket  line  after  two  hours  of  sharp 
fighting.  The  pertinacity  with  which  they  pressed 
every  advantage  and  clung  to  every  position,  sur 
prised  us.  They  meant  to  make  a  desperate  struggle 
for  the  rich  valley  of  the  Shenandoah.  A  few  men 
were  wounded  on  our  side.  Several  of  the  enemy 
were  killed,  as  we  learned  from  inscriptions  at  their 
graves  a  few  days  later. 

Picket  duty  and  reconnoissances  in  force  now  oc 
cupied  our  time.  September  5,  the  whole  of  the 
Thirteenth  were  on  picket.  The  same  day  a  heavy 
reconnoitering  column  found  the  enemy  massed  on 
our  right,  and  our  lines  seriously  threatened.  Cold 
rains  at  night  made  us  particularly  uncomfortable. 
Every  morning,  for  an  hour  before  daybreak,  the  army 
stood  in  line. 

September  6,  rain  fell  all  day. 
September   7,  Molineux's   brigade    at    ten   A.    M. 
joined  a  reconnoitering  column,  and  moved  towards 


224 

Winchester.  We  returned  at  evening,  having  found 
the  enemy  in  force  near  the  Opequan.  Major  Corn- 
stock  rejoined  us. 

September  8,  it  rained  all  day. 
,  Sunday,  September  11,  religious  services  at  brigade 
head-quarters  were  broken  off  by  a  thunder  storm. 

September  12,  a  soldier  was  drummed  through  the 
army  to  "The  Rogue's  March,"  escorted  by  seven 
men  with  muskets  and  bayonets,  some  of  which  fol 
lowed  inconveniently  near.  He  wore  a  hard-tack 
box,  through  which  his  head  appeared.  On  one  side 
was  written,  "  THIEF  ;"  on  the  other,  "  STOLE  PROP 
ERTY  WHILE  GUARDING  IT." 

September  13,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  the  ex 
treme  left  of  the  works  across  the  Berry ville  pike. 
On  our  right  was  a  section  of  field  artillery  ;  and 
next  was  the  Twenty-second  Iowa,  their  right  resting 
on  the  road . 

Our  brigade  at  this  time  comprised  the  Eleventh 
Indiana,  One  Hundred  Thirty-first  New  York,  Third 
Massachusetts  Cavalry,  Thirteenth  Connecticut, 
Twenty-second  Iowa,  and  One  Hundred  Fifty-ninth 
New  York  ;  all  under  command  of  Colonel  Molineux. 

Thursday,  September  15,  the  regiment  was  ordered 
to  be  under  arms  at  four  and  a  half  o'clock  A.  M. 
Notice  was  given  by  the  brigade  commander  that  an 
attack  was  every  moment  expected. 

Saturday,  September  17,  General  Grant  was  re 
ported  to  be  visiting  Sheridan.  The  battle  of  the  fol 
lowing  Monday  was  the  result. 

Sunday,  September  18,  after  regimental  inspection, 
religious  services  were  conducted  at  the  camp  of  the 
Eleventh  Indiana  by  Chaplain  Ames  of  that  regi- 


225 

ment.  Orders  were  received  to  move  at  two  o'clock 
A.  M.  next  day  to  the  Berry ville  pike  and  there  join 
the  remainder  of  the  brigade.  No  wagons  were  to 
accompany  the  movement,  nor  any  baggage. 

At  half-past  two  o'clock  A.  M.,  September  19, 1864, 
being  Monday,  the  Thirteenth  moved  out  to  the  road. 
Colonel  Blinn  was  in  command.  In  an  hour  the 
whole  army  was  in  motion.  The  enemy  was  known 
to  be  in  strong  force  six  or  eight  miles  distant  on  the 
Winchester  side  of  the  Opequan  Creek.  From  Lime 
stone  Ridge,  which  is  a  long  line  of  high  ground 
bordering  the  Opequan  on  the  'eastern  side  and  cross 
ing  the  turnpike,  the  First  Connecticut  Cavalry  had 
driven  the  enemy. the  night  before. 

We  marched  along  in  the  darkness,  much  of  the 
way  through  woods,  making  frequent  halts.  At  day 
break  the  pause  lasted  longer,  and  we  formed  line  of 
battle.  Soon  we  passed  into  a  flank  movement, 
marching  for  the  most  part  on  the  right  of  the  pike, 
which  was  crowded  with  artillery  and  ambulances. 
Rapid  cannonading  indicated  that  the  fight  had  com 
menced. 

It  has  often  been  remarked  that  what  passes  under 
the  observation  of  one  man  in  a  great  battle  is  neces 
sarily  of  very  limited  extent  and  imperfectly  seen.  It 
is  only  by  comparing  the  accounts  of  many  eye  wit 
nesses  in  different  parts  of  the  field,  that  a  view,  at 
once  accurate  and  comprehensive,  of  a  general  en 
gagement  can  be  obtained. 

As  we  neared  the  Opequan,  word  came  to  the  regi 
mental  commanders  that  the  Nineteenth  Corps  was 
wanted  immediately  at  the  front,  and  that  General 
Sheridan  expected  much  of  it ;  that  the  men  must 
20 


226 

hastily  fill  canteens  at  the  stream,  and  press  forward,  los 
ing  no  time.  Before  reaching  the  Opequan,  Colonel 
Blinn,  who  had  been  sick  for  several  days  with  chills 
and  fever,  was  obliged  to  resort  to  one  of  the  ambu 
lances,  leaving  the  writer  in  command. 

Having  waded  the  shallow  creek  the  Thirteenth 
advanced  rapfely  a  mile  along  the  pike  which  led 
through  a  narrow  wooded  gorge.  Then  the  regiment 
filed  to  the  right  in  a  straight  road  leading  up  a  long 
hill  and  nearly  perpendicular  to  the  general  direction 
of  the  pike.  Along  this  branch  road,  on  the  side 
farthest  from  Winchester,  the  Thirteenth  first  formed 
line,  the  other  regiments  of  the  brigade  being  on  the 
right  and  left. 

After  standing  here  half  an  hour,  we  marched  by 
the  right  flank  across  the  road  and  into  a  wood  lot, 
perhaps  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  the  direction  of  the 
enemy  ;  thence  obliquely  to  the  left  into  an  open  field, 
which  commanded  an  extensive  view  to  the  left  and 
front ;  but  the  right  was  hidden  by  woods.  The  regi 
ments  moved  separately  some  distance  to  the  front, 
and  there  the  brigade  again  formed  line,  connecting 
with  other  brigades  of  Grover's  Division.  We  were 
moving  off  to  the  left  down  a  slope,  when  Gen.  Grover 
rode  up  rapidly  and  ordered  us  further  to  the  right. 
The  regiment  was  now  on  high  ground.  To  the  left 
we  saw  a  portion  of  the  Sixth  Corps,  which  was  posted 
on  a  hill,  breaking  and  running  to  the  rear  under  a 
hot  fire  of  musketry ;  and  we  saw  supports  rapidly 
passing  to  their  assistance.  In  rear  of  the  Thirteenth 
was  a  little  hollow  in  which  Surgeons  Clary  and  Clarke 
commenced  establishing  a  hospital  for  the  wounded 
but  the  shells  came  so  thick  that  they  were  compelled 


227 

to  remove  it  to  a  Quaker's  house,  half  a  mile  back. 
The  artillery  fire  waxing  warm,  and  everything  point 
ing  to  an  extensive  engagement,  the  writer  delivered 
letters  with  money  into  the  hands  of  Dr.  Clary ;  a 
wise  precaution  as  the  event  proved. 

The  regimental  commanders  had  received  no  infor 
mation  of  the  plan  of  the  battle.  It  appears  to  have 
been  as  follows :  The  Sixth  Corps  to  form  on  the  left, 
the  Nineteenth  on  the  centre  and  right.  These  were 
to  amuse  the  enemy  and  cover  well  the  mouth  of  the 
gorge,  from  which  the  whole  army  had  to  issue.  The 
Eighth  Corps  was  to  come  up,  pass  round  the  rear  of 
the  Nineteenth,  mass  upon  its  right,  and  then  hurl 
itself  against  the  rebel  left  wing. 

The  danger  in  this  programme  was  that  the  enemy 
by  a  determined  charge  would  strike  for  the  mouth 
of  the  gorge,  cut  Sheridan's  army  in  two,  and  hold 
the  only  practicable  road  for  the  retreat  of  that  por 
tion  which  should  have  arrived  on  the  field.  This 
was  precisely  what  Early  attempted  to  do,  and  he 
came  fearfully  near  to  its  accomplishment. 

He  allowed  the  Sixth  Corps  to  debouch  from  the 
long  narrow  road  between  the  Mils,  to  come  out  into 
the  open  rolling  country  and  deploy  on  his  right  with 
little  resistance.  Grover's  Division  did  the  same  in 
front  of  the  rebel  centre,  where  Early  had  massed  his 
troops.  Dwight's  division,  was  still  coming  up.  The 
Eighth  Corps  was  struggling  along  the  bottom  of  the 
gorge. 

To  gain  ground  to  the  front  and  give  room  for  the 
evolutions  of  the  troops  in  our  rear,  a  general  for 
ward  movement  was  commenced.  Grover's  (second) 
division  was  at  first  crowded,  the  battalion  intervals 


228 

being  obliterated,  and  the  regiments  overlapping  one 
another.  The  lines  of  advance  from  the  defile  being 
divergent,  a  large  gap  was  soon  made  between  the 
two  corps,  and  also  breaks  occurred  in  our  division 
front.  The  irregularity  of  the  ground  aggravated 
these  unfavorable  features. 

A  heavy  fire  of  musketry  was  now  added  to  that  of 
artillery.  This  only  seemed  to  increase  the  enthusi 
asm  of  Grover's  men.  Our  advance  commenced  with 
steadiness  and  in  a  beautiful  line,  but  gradually 
quickened  into  a  rapid  charge. 

One  of  our  first  men  struck  was  that  brave  and 
faithful  first-sergeant,  Samuel  B.  Dunn,  Company  K, 
both  of  whose  hands  were  sadly  torn  by  grape  shot. 
The  writer  recollects  throwing  a  cord  to  form  a  com 
press,  as  the  Sergeant  held  up  his  mangled  hands.  A 
small,  crooked  brook  thick  set  with  bushes,  broke  the 
regiment  near  the  centre,  it  being  impossible  from  the 
noise  to  hear  the  commands.  Major  Comstock  was 
directed  to  look  after  the  companies  thus  temporarily 
separated  on  the  right,  and  keep  them  to  the  colors^ 
the  forward  movement  still  continuing. 

The  Thirteenth  was  now  advancing  up  something 
like  a  little  valley,  raked  longitudinally  by  a  hostile 
battery  about  quarter  of  a  mile  distant,  and  by  a  line 
of  rebel  infantry,  whose  position  was  indicated  by  the 
incessant  jets  of  smoke.  The  rapidity  of  our  advance 
allowed  no  time  for  observation.  A  tremendous  fire 
was  tearing  every  portion  of  the  field. 

The  rebel  general  seemed  to  have  waked  up  at  last. 
He  must  have  been  puzzled  at  the  impetuous  onset  of 
Grover's  division,  in  front  of  which  he  had  concen 
trated  his  best  troops  to  pierce  our  centre.  The  time 
for  action  seemed  to  have  come. 


229 

Grover's  division  in  the  wild  excitement  charged 
too  far,  it  being  impossible  to  restrain  the  men,  who 
had  got  the  idea  that  this  was  to  be  the  final  and  de 
cisive  assault.  The  Thirteenth,  though  broken  at 
times  by  the  irregularities  of  ground,  discharged  its 
duty  with  unwavering  fidelity.  "  Colonel,  your  horse 
is  wounded,"  said  orderly-sergeant  Maguire  to  the 
writer.  The  blood  spirting  from  the  animal's  flank, 
the  writer  leaped  down,  and  continued  to  press  for 
ward  with  the  regiment,  which  was  moving  at  a 
double  quick. 

The  enemy's  first  line  recoiled  before  our  swift  ad 
vance,  but  his  batteries  kept  up  their  tremendous 
firing. 

Orders  finally  came  to  halt.  We  stopped  under  a 
heavy  fire.  The  Thirteenth,  farther  to  the  front  than 
most  of  the  line,  was  at  a  dry  channel,  two  feet  in 
depth  and  width,  worn  by  a  small  brook.  Here  the 
men  were  allowed  to  load  and  fire  at  will,  each  man 
creeping  up  about  a  rod  from  the  ditch  to  deliver  the 
fire.  Quite  an  interval  separated  us  from  the  other 
regiments. 

Passing  to  the  left  and  giving  instructions  to  the 
men  to  husband  their  ammunition  and  not  fire  with 
out  careful  aim,  the  writer  noticed  several  men  on  the 
right  starting  up  and  running  to  the  rear,  and  at  the 
same  instant  Lieut.  Handy  of  Colonel  Molineux's 
staff,  on  his  horse,  his  face  pale,  his  hands  uplifted, 
apparently  communicating  orders  ;  the  men  starting 
to  their  feet.  "  What  are  those  orders  ?"  the  writer 
demanded.  "  Retreat !  Retreat !  Get  to  the  rear 
as  fast  sis  possible  !"  he  answered,  throwing  up  both 
hands  Early's  masses  were  coming  ! 
20* 


230 

•"  Rise  up.  Face  to  the  rear.  Battalion — About 
face.  Forward — March  !  Not  too  fast.  Slower. 
Keep  dressed  on  the  centre.  Guide  on  the  colors. 
Slower."  Such  were  the  commands  given. 

Hardly  had  the  retrograde  movement  commenced, 
when  one  of  Sheridan's  staff  officers  came  riding  up 
at  a  tearing  speed,  his  horse  covered  with  foam.  The 
regiment  had  passed  two  or  three  rods.  The  writer 
had  not  yet  started  but  was  angrily  calling  out  to  some 
of  the  officers  to  stop  their  men  from  running. 
"  For  God's  sake  !"  said  the  aide  ;  "  What  does  this 
mean  ?  This  retreat  must  be  stopped.  This  position 
must  be  held.  It  must  be  held  at  all  hazards." 
"  Battalion — Halt !"  commanded  the  writer  at  the  top 
of  his  voice.  Those  of  the  Thirteenth  who  heard  the 
order  hesitated  a  moment,  and  some  obeyed  ;  but  the 
great  majority  did  not  hear  it,  or  were  swept  along  in 
the  ever-increasing  speed  of  retreat.  "  I'll  bring  them 
back,'  said  the  aide.  "  Our  brigade  commander  or 
dered  the  retreat,"  replied  the  writer.  "  It's  a  mis 
take.  This  position  must  be  held  to  the  last  extremity. 
By  — ,  if  we  lose  this,  all's  lost.  Hold  it,  I'll  bring 
support  immediately."  Plunging  his  spurs  into  his 
horse  he  disappeared  in  the  direction  of  the  retreat 
ing  regiments.  A  hail  storm  of  metal  poured  after 
him. 

Quite  a  number  of  members  of  other  regiments 
clustered  to  the  little  group,  till  we  had  about  seventy 
men.  Forming  these  in  line,  and  causing  bayonets  to 
be  fixed,  the  writer  waited  the  return  of  our  brigade. 
Minutes  seemed  hours.  We  knew  that  great  efforts 
would  instantly  be  put  forth  to  retake  the  abandoned 

ground ;  for  if  Early  once  got  possession  of  the  en- 


231 

trance  to  the  gorge  in  our  rear,  it  was  all  over  with 
our  army.  We  looked  every  moment  for  our  brigade. 
It  came  ;  but  too  late  for  us ! 

Emory,  Grover,  Birge,  Molineux,  and  many  other 
officers  made  almost  incredible  exertions  to  stop  the 
retreat,  which  had  now  become  a  precipitate  flight. 
The  right  of  the  Sixth  Corps  like  the  Second  Division 
of  the  Nineteenth  had  given  way  before  Early's  tre 
mendous  charge.  His  veteran  regiments,  however, 
were  broken  as  our  own  had  been  by  their  impetuos 
ity  and  the  irregular  ground  ;  and  when  they  reached 
the  First  Division,  Nineteenth  Corps,  which  had  just 
formed  line  and  advanced  to  meet  the  shock,  the  tide 
of  retreat  began  to  be  rolled  back  and  the  Second 
Division  rallied. 

Captain  De  Forest,  of  the  Twelfth  Connecticut,  in 
his  admirable  description  of  Sheridan's  Battle  of 
Winchester ',  in  Harpers  New  Monthly  Magazine,  pre 
sents  the  following  picture : 

"  Grover's  and  Rickett's  (First  Division,  Sixth 
Corps)  commands  reached  the  base  from  which  they 
had  advanced,  in  a  state  of  confusion  which  threat 
ened  wide-spread  disaster.  Sixth  Corps  men  and 
Nineteenth  Corps  men  were  crowding  together  up  the 
line  of  the  Berryville  pike,  while  to  the  right  and 
left  of  it  the  fields  were  dotted  with  fugitives,  great 
numbers  of  them  wounded,  bursting  out  of  the  retir 
ing  ranks,  and  rushing  towards  the  cover  of  the  forest. 
Some  regiments  disappeared  for  the  time  as  organiza 
tions.  Early's  veterans  advanced  steadily  with  yells 
of  triumph  and  constant  volleys  of  musketry,  threat 
ening  to  sweep  away  our  centre,  and  render  our 
struggle  a  defeat,  almost  before  it  became  a  battle.  It 


232 

was  the  bloodiest,  the  darkest,  the  most  picturesque, 
the  most  dramatic,  the  only  desperate  moment,  of  the 
day.  General  Emory,  General  Grover,  with  every 
brigade  commander  and  every  staff  officer  present 
rode  hither  and  thither  through  the  fire,  endeavoring 
by  threats,  commands  and  entreaties,  to  halt  and  re 
form  the  panic-stricken  stragglers." 

All  this  came  of  the  unfortunate  order  to  retreat, 
while  exposed  to  a  heavy  and  destructive  fire.  Men 
may  face  such  a  storm  with  steady  and  grim  defiance. 
The  Thirteenth  had  done  it  many  times.  But  no 
soldiers  can  turn  their  backs  to  such  a  tempest,  and 
march  slowly  away.  An  irrepressible  panic  seizes 
them.  They  will  run  ! 

But  we  who  had  remained  in  position  when  the  red 
waves  of  battle  were  sweeping  towards  us  and  the 
grey  foam  was  dashing  past,  were  engulphed  before  we 
knew  it,  in  the  surging  flood.  The  first  party  ap 
proached  our  left.  The  writer  commanded,  "  Fire  /" 
but  the  cry  arose,  "  Don't  Fire  !  They're  deserters 
coming  in  !"  A  glance  convinced  to  the  contrary, 
and  again  the  writer  commanded,  •"  Fire  /"  But  it 
was  too  late.  We  were  prisoners  ! 

The  rallied  division  of  General  Grover,  and  the 
fresh  division  of  General  Dwight,  now  made  a  deter 
mined  stand.  Splendid  deeds  of  heroism  were  per 
formed,  by  the  enemy  as  well  as  by  our  own  men  ; 
and  many  a  gallant  officer  and  hundreds  of  gallant 
soldiers  fell  to  rise  no  more.  The  well-nigh  fatal 
charge  was  at  last  arrested.  The  rebels  were  forced 
back  far  enough  to  allow  the  Eighth  Corps  to  come 
from  the  defile,  pass  behind  the  Nineteenth,  and  form 
in  dense  column  on  the  right.  Here,  at  four  P.  M.,  in 


233 

conjunction  with  the  cavalry,  they  made  that  long- 
intended  and  brilliant  charge  which  turned  the 
enemy's  left.  A  simultaneous  advance  of  the  three 
corps  now  drove  the  entire  Confederate  army  from  the 
field. 

In  this  engagement  the  Thirteenth  lost  six  killed? 
thirty-nine  wounded,  and  thirty- two  prisoners  ;  among 
the  latter  Lieutenant  Gardner.  The  Nineteenth 
Corps  lost  nineteen  hundred  and  forty-six  killed  and 
wounded. 

About  sunset  the  Thirteenth  moved  a  mile  or  more 
to  the  left  of  Winchester  and  bivouaced.  Next  day 
they  accompanied  the  rest  of  the  brigade  in  the  pur 
suit.  They  reached  a  point  near  Strasburg.  To  the 
left  of  the  highway  a  mile  from  town  they  occupied 
the  crest  of  a  high  hill.  Here  they  threw.out  pickets 
and  passed  a  very  cold  night. 

September  21,  the  regiment  moved  with  the  brigade 
several  miles  to  the  right  and  took  position  about  half 
a  mile  from  the  railroad. 

Next  day  was  signalized  by  the  splendid  victory  of 
Fisher's  Hill.  The  Thirteenth  was  engaged  till  past 
midday  in  erecting  earthworks,  under  the  constant 
fire  of  the  rebel  pickets  and  sharpshooters.  It  was 
difficult  to  get  shovels,  and  our  men  would  much 
rather  fight  than  dig,  yet  waited  patiently. 

The  Richmond  papers  announcing  that  Early's  po 
sition  at  Fisher's  Hill  was  impregnable  to  the  whole 
Yankee  army,  must  have  been  received  by  him  just 
about  the  time  he  started  in  headlong  flight  down  its 
slopes ! 

Cannonading  had  been  going  on  most  of  the  day, 
when  the  Thirteenth,  late  in  the  afternoon,  were  or- 


234 

derecl  forward  along  the  pike.  Passing  through  Stras- 
burg,  they  charged  at  first  directly  up  the  road,  and 
then  to  the  right,  where  they  received  orders  to  halt 
and  lie  down.  A  severe  fire  of  shrapnel,  shell  and 
solid  shot  was  opened  upon  them,  during  the  charge, 
and  their  preservation  was  truly  marvelous,  only  two 
being  wounded.  Dr.  Clark,  who  was  present  says, 
"  It  was  like  going  through  hell !"  The  Eighth  Corps, 
which  had  so  nobly  turned  the  enemy's  left  at  Win 
chester,  now  performed  a  similar  and  equally  gallant 
service.  Creeping  on  hands  and  knees  half  a  mile, 
they  sprang  at  one  bound  inside  the  rebel  works.  At 
the  same  instant  the  Thirteenth,  with  the  rest  of  the 
division  and  corps,  made  a  simultaneous  rush  on  the 
stronghold,  and  the  stars  and  stripes  were  borne  to 
the  summit. 

After  the  battle  the  regiment  pushed  on  rapidly  in 
pursuit.  The  road  was  strewn  with  broken  and  burn 
ing  wagons,  ambulances  and  the  debris  of  a  defeated 
army.  Report  spread  that  we  had  captured  every 
piece  of  rebel  artillery  except  one.  The  men  were 
just  felicitating  themselves  on  the  good  news,  when 
they  were  suddenly  opened  upon  with  both  musketry 
and  artillery  !  This  was  some  three  miles  from  Fish 
er's  Hill.  The  regiment  halted,  formed  line  of  battle, 
.and  advanced  to  charge;  but  the  enemy  had  fled. 
Pursuing  through  Tom's  Brook,  Hawkinstown  and 
Woodstock,  the  regiment  halted  on  the  left  of  the  road 
at  four  A.  M.,  September  23,  just  after  passing  through 
the  last  named  town.  Rations  were  issued,  and  after 
four  or  five  hours'  rest,  they  resumed  the  pursuit, 
passing  through  Edinburgh  to  Mount  Jackson.  Here 
the  enemy  attempted  to  make  a  stand  ;  but  the  Second 


235 

Division  passing  around  their  left  forced  them  to  evac 
uate  the  position.  The  Thirteenth  pressed  on,  occa 
sionally  coming  in  view  of  the  flying  rebels.  The 
regiment  kept  in  the  fields  to  the  right  of  the  pike. 
Wherever  a  piece  of  artillery  could  be  brought  to  bear 
on  the  enemy,  it  was  done  ;  until  the  Thirteenth 
reached  New  Market.  Here  our  men  rested  through 
the  night,  and  then  marched  to  Harrisonburgh.  The 
view  of  the  multitudes  of  camp  fires  at  Harrisonburgh 
by  night  was  one  of  great  beauty  ;  the  whole  amphi 
theatre  of  hills  being  illuminated  for  many  miles 
around.  Resuming  the  march  next  morning,  the 
regiment  reached  Mount  Crawford  ;  the  furthest  point 
reached  by  the  Thirteenth  ;  some  twenty-one  miles 
distant  from  Staunton. 

Remaining  twenty-four  hours  in  Mount  Crawford, 
the  regiment  returned,  September  27,  to  Harrison 
burgh.  Here  they  remained  in  camp  about  two  weeks. 
The  nights  began  to  be  severe,  only  shelter-tents  being 
allowed  to  soldiers,  and  a  tent-fly  to  officers.  The 
regiment  was  engaged  here  in  the  usual  picket  duty, 
and  was  occasionally  drilled.  Several  alarms  were 
had,  and  the  regiment  repeatedly  "  fell  in"  with  all 
haste.  Every  morning,  an  hour  before  day-light,  they 
stood  to  arms  and  remained  until  sunrise,  shivering, 
but  full  of  fight. 

October  7,  the  regiment  marched  back  to  Stras- 
burgh,  and  went  into  camp  not  far  from  the  spot 
where  they  had  thrown  up  works  just  previous  to  the 
battle  of  Fisher's  Hill.  About  this  time  privates 
Schweikart  and  Fuller,  while  out  foraging  for  the  offi 
cers'  horses,  were  captured  by  the  enemy's  scouts.  In 


286 

two  or  three  days  the  command  moved  back  several 
miles  to  CedarCreek. 

October  15,  the  regiment  moved  out  rapidly  half  a 
mile  to  support  the  picket  line  then  warmly  engaged. 
The  Eighth  Corps  was  attacked  in  force,  and  two  or 
three  hundred  were  killed  and  wounded.  The  Thir 
teenth  remained  out  through  the  frosty  night  beside 
a  stone  wall.  Fires  being  prohibited,  they  suffered 
severely.  Here  they  remained  next  day,  exposed  to 
the  skill  of  the  rebel  sharp-shooters.  It  was  at  this 
time  that  the  commissioners,  who  had  been  sent  from 
Connecticut  for  the  purpose,  took  the  votes  of  the 
soldiers  for  the  approaching  presidential  election.  It 
is  due  to  these  public  functionaries  to  say,  that,  being 
under  the  rebel  fire,  they  performed  their  duties  with 
great  alacrity,  appearing  to  feel  that  time  was  pre 
cious.  In  the  afternoon  the  troops  moved  back  to 
their  position  near  the  creek. 

October  18,  twenty-seven  conscripts  arrived  from 
Connecticut.  They  were  assigned  to  Company  K, 
under  command  of  Lieut.  Perkins. 

The  same  day  orders  were  received  by  the  regimen 
tal  commanders  of  the  Second  Division,  Nineteenth 
Corps,  to  have  coffee  for  the  men  at  three  o'clock 
next  morning,  and  to  be  in  line  before  daybreak,  ready 
to  march  on  a  reconnoissance  in  force.  This  order 
was  fully  observed. 

In  the  morning  of  October  19,  1864,  the  following 
was  the  disposition  of  Sheridan's  army  before  day 
light: 

The  three  corps  d'armee  were  posted  in  echelon, 
descending  from  the  left,  each  corps  being  on  a  mode- 


237 

rate  elevation  of  ground  and  thus  forming  one  of  the 
three  grand  steps.  First,  on  the  left  of  the  Strasburg 
pike  was  the  Eighth  Corps.  Second,  on  the  right  of 
the  same  road  was  the  Nineteenth,  half  a  mile  to  right 
and  rear  of  the  Eighth.  Third,  to  the  right  and  rear 
of  the  Nineteenth  was  the  Sixth.  Crook  commanded 
the  Eighth,  Emory  the  Nineteenth,  and  Wright  the 
Sixth.  Wright,  by  seniority,  commanded  the  whole 
army  until  Sheridan's  arrival  on  the  field.  The  ex 
tremities  of  the  wings  were  three  miles  apart.  The 
ground  on  the  right  of  the  Sixth  Corps  was  occupied 
by  Torbert's  cavalry.  A  small  division  of  infantry, 
known  as  Kitching's  Provisional  Division,  lay  on  the 
left  of  the  Eighth  Corps  looking  outward.  Our  batte 
ries  were  posted  along  the  front,  where  a  strong  line 
of  earthworks  and  extensive  abattis  had  been  con 
structed.  The  Second  Division,  Nineteenth  Corps,  was 
under  arms,  ready  to  go  on  their  expected  reconnois- 
sance. 

The  enemy,  reenforced  by  twelve  thousand  fresh 
troops,  was  supposed  to  be  lying  entrenched  on  Fish 
er's  Hill. 

Three  days  previously  a  brigade  of  our  cavalry  oc 
cupied  the  ground  over  which  Early  now  led  his  men 
to  turn  our  left.  Two  days  previously  General  Emory 
had  reconnoitered  the  spot,  and  suggested  that  it  was 
possible  for  the  enemy  to  flank  us  there.  But  no  one 
dreamed  that  the  rebel  commander  had  the  audacity 
to  attempt  the  perilous  enterprise.  It  was  a  truly 
Napoleonic  feat.  . 

From  the  summit  of  the  Massanutten  mountain, 
with  a  good  glass,  the  position  of  the  whole  union 
army  could  be  seen. 
21 


238 

Before  midnight  on  the  eighteenth  of  October  the 
rebel  army  commenced  that  flank  movemant,  to  which 
history  furnishes  no  parallel.  Giving  orders  to  his 
cavalry  and  light  batteries  to  amuse  and  threaten  our 
right  wing  at  the  proper  moment,  the  remainder  of 
Eaiiy's  army,  not  less  than  twenty  thousand,  descend 
ed  into  the  ravine  that  stretches  along  the  base  of  the 
Massanutten  peak,  crossed  the  north  branch  of  the 
Shenandoah,  and  crept  stealthily  two  or  three  miles, 
passing  around  the  Eighth  Corps  in  perfect  silence, 
and  sometimes  within  easy  talking  distance  of  Crook's 
pickets.  Hour  after  hour  the  long  stream  of  troops  in 
grey  flowed  on.  They  had  left  their  canteens,  in  or 
der  that  the  tinkling  sound  might  not  betray  them. 

Half  an  hour  before  daydreak  the  division  of  Gene 
ral  Gordon,  whose  genius  is  said  to  have  devised  this 
master-piece  of  strategy,  had  passed  quite  around  the 
Eighth  Corps,  and  was  massed  in  close  column  facing 
obliquely  the  left  and  rear  of  the  Nineteenth  !  Oppo 
site  Kitching's  Provisional  Division,  and  facing  square 
ly  the  left  flank  of  the  Eighth  Corps,  were  the  two 
rebel  divisions  of  Generals  Ramseur  and  Pegram. 
Facing  the  front  of  the  Eighth  Corps  were  the  two 
divisions  of  the  confederate  Generals  Kershaw  and 
Wharton.  Thus  lay  this  doomed  corps  just  at  day 
break,  all  unconscious  of  danger,  with  rebels  to  the 
number  of  twenty  thousand  on  three  sides  and  less 
than  half  a  mile  distant,  crouching  and  eager  to 
pounce  upon  their  sleeping  prey  ! 

On  a  sudden  a  terrific  roar  of  ipusketry  and  the 
yells  of  ten  thousand  infantry  !  It  was  Eaiiy's  "Good 
morning  "  salutation !  His  veteran  lines  moved  steady 
and  swift,  the  little  resistance  they  encountered  serving 


239 

only  to  keep  the  charging  columns  compact.  The 
gallant  Eighth  Corps,  which  had  won  so  glorious  a 
name  on  many  a  battle-field ;  the  corps  which  Sheri 
dan  had  swung  round  that  great  semi-circle  at  Win 
chester,  like  a  rock  in  a  huge  sling,  smiting  Early  a 
blow  which  sent  him  reeling  back  to  Strasburg ;  the 
corps  whose  lion-spring,  swift  as  a  thunderbolt,  had 
landed  it  in  the  monster's  fiery  lair  on  Fisher's  Hill, 
on  the  twenty-second  of  September ;  was  now  rolled 
up,  trodden  under  foot,  and  swept  away  as  easily  as 
the  whirlwind  drives  the  autumn  leaves.  In  twenty 
minutes  from  the  tiring  of  the  first  gun,  the  Eighth 
Corps  was  a  panic-stricken  flying  mob. 

The  retreating  mass  of  fugitives  first  apprised  tlie 
officers  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps  how  terrible  was  the 
blow  that  had  fallen.  Almost  at  the  same  instant  the 
dense  masses  of  Gordon's  division  struck  McMillan's 
brigade  of  the  First  Division,  Nineteenth  Corps,  which 
had  been  hastily  pushed  to  the  left  rear  by  Emory, 
who  comprehended  the  fact  that  the  enemy  were  out 
flanking  us.  The  Twelfth  Connecticut  was  in  this 
brigade,  and  most  gallantly  did  that  noble  sister  regi 
ment  uphold  the  honor  of  the  state  on  this,  as  on 
every  other  occasion.  They  fired  three  vollies,  but 
the  far  superior  weight  of  the  enemy  crushed  them,  as 
an  elephant  would  trample  down  a  bull-dog.  Two 
other  brigades  successively  shared  the  same  fate  in  a 
few  minutes.  Still  onward  pressed  the  rebel  columns, 
and  ever  rose  and  rung  their  terrible  battle-yell.  They 
threw  out  no  skirmishers,  for  they  knew  the  ground 
perfectly. 

Emory  threw  several  brigades  of  the  Nineteenth 
Corps  on  the  outer  side  of  their  own  breastworks,  as 


240 

the  bullets  now  came  from  the  rear.  Wright  pushed 
the  Sixth  Corps  rapidly  to  the  left  and  rear  to  gain 
full  possession  of  the  Winchester  and  Strasburg 
pike. 

The  part  taken  by  the  Thirteenth  Connecticut  was 
not  peculiar.  They  moved  with  the  remainder  of 
Grover's  division,  the  whole  of  which  was  under  arms 
for  the  expected  reconnoissance.  Had  fifteen  minutes' 
notice  of  the  real  state  of  things  been  given,  the  di 
vision  could  have  been  faced  to  meet  the  shock.  But 
almost  simultaneously  with  the  first  roll  of  musketry, 
the  fugitives  of  the  Eighth  Corps  came  rushing  up  and 
across  the  pike,  and  bullets  began  to  fall  from  the 
front,  left,  and  rear.  By  Molineux's  order,  the  Thir 
teenth,  with  the  rest  of  the  brigade,  stepped  into  the 
trenches  at  the  first  firing.  In  a  few  minutes  the  in- 
rolling  tide  of  fire  and  steel  reached  them,  and  chaos 
came  with  it.  By  some  misunderstanding,  the  right 
wing  moved  off  with  Col.  Blinn ;  the  left,  with  Major 
Comstock.  Many  determined  stands  were  taken  by 
our  veterans,  who  seized  every  opportunity  to  hurl 
back  death  and  defiance  at  the  avalanche  of  rebels. 
But  every  successive  position  had  to  be  abandoned. 
In  some  disorder  all  the  regiments  were  retreating. 
Towards  noon  the  two  wings  of  the  Thirteenth  were 
re-united. 

General  Wright,  not  feeling  safe  till  the  Winchester 
and  Strasburg  pike  was  securely  held,  kept  pushing 
the  Sixth  Corps  towards  this  important  avenue  of 
communication.  At  last  it  got  into  position  on  the 
left  of  the  Nineteenth  and  in  connection  with  it.  The 
pursuit  seemed  to  have  ceased.  The  enemy  were 
gathering  up  the  fruits  of  victory.  Only  their  artille- 


241 

ry  continued  firing.  It  was  five  hours  since  the  ac 
tion  had  commenced.  The  army  had  been  driven 
about  four  miles. 

The  Sixth  Corps  had  gained  the  pike,  and  the  army 
had  began  to  assume  a  formidable  attitude  fronting 
the  enemy,  when  Sheridan  came  with  flying  speed 
from  Winchester  on  his  superb  black  charger.  Every 
body  recognized  him  as  he  rode  from  regiment  to 
regiment  with  animating  words.  The  troops  were 
resting  in.  line.  Sheridan's  presence  acted  like  a 
charm.  They  felt  that  they  had  been  taken  at  a  great 
disadvantage.  After  infinite  difficulty  they  had  once 
more  got  into  a  position  to  strike  back.  Even  the  shat 
tered  and  dispersed  fragments  of  the  Eighth  Corps 
began  to  crystalize.  The  cavalry  formed  a  long  line 
across  the  field,  stopped  all  stragglers,  and  compelled 
them  to  fall  in  with  the  nearest  organization. 

The  Nineteenth  Corps  was  for  the  most  part  posted 
in  a  large  piece  of  woods.  They  threw  out  skirmish 
ers,  the  Thirteenth  being  deployed  under  command 
of  Colonel  Blinn.  The  skirmishers  were  ordered  not 
to  attempt  to  rally  on  the  battalion,  but  to  join  the 
final  charge,  each  man  falling  in  with  the  movement 
wherever  he  might  be. 

After  two  or  three  hours,  every  moment  of  which 
was  most  industriously  employed  in  re-forming,  re 
organizing,  and  preparing,  word  was  brought  to 
Emory  that  a  column  in  mass  was  advancing  against 
him.  The  Nineteenth  Corps  was  all  ready  for  them 
this  time.  They  struck  it  near  the  centre.  A  steady 
roll  of  musketry  followed,  which  lasted  several 
minutes.  The  enemy  retreated  in  the  utmost  con- 
21* 


242 

fusion.  This  was  the  first  repulse  they  had  received 
this  day. 

Another  pause  of  an  hour,  and  the  army  impa 
tiently  awaited  the  signal  for  the  grand  advance 
which  was  to  restore  the  fortunes  of  the  day.  Sheri 
dan's  order  came  at  last :  "  The  entire  line  will  ad 
vance.  The  Nineteenth  Corps  will  move  in  connect' 
ion  with  the  Sixth.  The  right  of  the  Nineteenth  will 
swing  towards  the  left  so  as  to  drive  the  enemy  upon 
the  pike." 

So  the  Sixth  Corps  were  to  charge  squarely  up  the 
pike  ;  while  the  Nineteenth,  outflanking  the  confed 
erates,  were  to  make  a  gigantic  wheel  to  the  left.  The 
two  corps  would  form  an  enormous  Y,  inclosing  a 
great  portion  of  the  enemy  within  the  angle. 

When  all  was  ready  the  movement  commenced. 
General  Birge  is  said  to  have  seized  a  flag,  rode  out  in 
iront  of  our  skirmish  line,  and  pointing  to  a  hostile 
battery,  given  the  signal  for  charge.  With  shouts 
that  seemed  to  shake  the  hills,  fifteen  thousand  men 
moved  forward  in  quick  time  against  the  sheets  of 
flame  that  blazed  from  the  long  grey  ranks  and  roar 
ing  batteries.  The  shocks  were  quick,  repeated,  ter 
rible.  From  height  to  height,  from  wood  to  wood, 
from  wall  to  wall,  the  broken  ranks  of  the  enemy  re 
treated,  making  a  stand  for  a  few  minutes  at  succes 
sive  wooded  ridges,  which  had  been  hastily  fortified 
by  rude  breastworks  of  rails  and  earth  ;  and  then  re 
coiling  again  before  the  steady  and  resistless  advance ; 
until  five  thousand  cavalry,  led  by  such  men  as  Tor- 
bert  and  Custar  and  Mclntosh,  thundered  upon  their 
heels,  and  the  lately  victorious  and  magnificent  army 
of  Early  became  a  routed  rabble  ! 


243 

Forty-nine  pieces  of  artillery,  about  half  of  which 
were  captured  from  us  in  the  morning ;  sixty-five 
ambulances,  and  a  proportionate  number  of  wagons, 
small  arms,  and  the  thousand  implements  of  war ;  fif 
teen  hundred  prisoners,  and  two  thousand  rebel  killed 
and  wounded,  were  among  the  fruits  of  this  great  vic 
tory  so  wonderfully  wrested  from  defeat.  But  its 
chief  importance  was  its  crushing  effect  upon  the  al 
ready  reeling  confederacy. 

The  loss  of  our  army  was  very  severe  ;  not  less  than 
thirty-five  hundred  killed,  wounded  and  missing.  The 
Thirteenth  lost  two  killed,  eighteen  wounded  and  nine 
missing.  Among  the  killed  was  our  brave  color-sergeant, 
Geo.  A.  Winslow.  He  fell  pierced  through  the  forehead 
by  a  rifle  ball,  beneath  the  folds  of  the  flag  he  bore  so 
gallantly  and  loved  so  well.  Among  the  wounded 
was  Major  Comstock,  whose  hand  was  badly  cut  by  a 
fragment  of  shell. 

Captain  Wells  deserves  especial  mention,  for  going 
into  battle  and  sharing  the  perils  of  the  regiment 
through  the  day,  though  he  had  in  his  pocket  a  leave 
of  absence.  * 

That  night  the  regiment  slept  in  the  camp  it  had 
vacated  in  the  morning.  Next  day  it  moved  half 
way  to  Strasburg  and  bivouaced.  On  the  twenty-first 
it  returned  to  Cedar  Creek.  After  a  few  days  there, 
it  retired  six  miles  towards  Winchester,  and  went  into 
winter-quarters  with  the  rest  of  the  army.  Strong 
earthworks  were  immediately  thrown  up,  and  soon 
after  log-huts  were  built.  The  place  was  christened 
Camp  Russell. 

December  1,  1864,  the  regiment  moved  from  Camp 
Russell  to  Martinsburg  as  guard  to  a  wagon  train. 
There  on  a  high  hill  they  remained  a  week  in  camp, 


244 

and  then  returned  to  Camp  Russell.  Two  weeks 
later  the  non-veterans,  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
in  number,  left  for  New  Haven  to  be  mustered  out 
of  service.  Fifteen  officers  accompanied  them,  ren 
dered  supernumerary  by  the  consolidation  of  the 
veterans  into  a  battalion  of  five  companies.  They 
were  Colonel  C.  D.  Blinn  ;  Quartermaster  William 
Bishop ;  Adjutant  F.  N.  Stanley ;  Captains  J.  J. 
McCord,  C.  H.  Cornwell,  D.  H.  Finley,  Perry  Averill ; 
First  Lieutenants,  Robert  A.  Ripley,  J.  S.  A.  Baker, 
William  F.  Norman  ;  Second  Lieutenants,  J.  J. 
Squiers,  George  E.  .Fancher,  Charles  H.  Beaton,  J. 
M.  Lyman,  E.  S.  D  unbar. 

This  consolidation  was  completed  on  the  twenty- 
ninth  of  December,  and  the  Thirteenth  Regiment 
proper  ceased  to  exist  as  an  organization. 

The  Veteran  Battalion,  Thirteenth  Conn.  Vols., 
being  composed  chiefly  of  those  who  had  re-enlisted  in 
the  preceding  winter  for  three  years  or  during  the 
war,  contained  a  large  proportion  ol  the  patriotism 
and  courage  of  the  old  regiment.  Its  members  still 
clung  with  pride  to  the  battle-torn  flags  they  had  so 
often  borne  to  victory  and  looked  confidently  forward 
to  new  fields  of  danger  and  glory. 

December  30,  the  day  after  the  regiment  was  conso 
lidated,  the  battalion  moved  with  the  remainder  of  the 
army  five  miles  from  Camp  Russell  to  Stevenson's 
Depot,  the  terminus  of  the  Harper's  Ferry  and  Win 
chester  Railroad,  where  the  battalion  was  detached  to 
guard  the  ammunition  train  of  the  Nineteenth  Corps. 
A  snow  storm  came  on  at  evening,  and  next  day  was 
terribly  bleak  and  wintry.  The  intense  cold  will 
long  be  remembered,  the  thin  shelter-tents  being  en- 


245 

tirely  inadequate  to  keep  out  the  cold,  as  the  men  lay 
without  fires  on  the  frozen  ground.  Monday,  Janu 
ary  2, 1865,  another  snow  storm  came  on.  Our  men 
stood  shivering,  silent  and  helpless.  January  3d,  the 
battalion  moved  to  higher  ground  half  a  mile  distant. 
January  4,  another  snow  storm  came  and  with  it 
much  suffering.  The  battalion  at  last  obtained  ma 
terials  for  building  houses,  and  were  just  getting  them 
into  a  habitable  condition,  when  they  received  orders, 
January  5,  to  move  by  rail  with  the  rest  of  the  Sec 
ond  Division.  A  cold  rain  storm  came  on,  soaking  the 
clothing  of  the  men  who  were  kept  eight  hours  in  the 
storm  on  platform  cars.  Some  had  feet  frozen  ;  oth 
ers,  ears  and  fingers.  Proceeding  by  rail  from  Har 
per's  Ferry,  they  arrived  at  Baltimore,  Saturday 
morning,  January  7.  Here  they  were  crowded  into 
barracks  at  Camp  Carroll,  a  mile  from  town.  They 
were  packed  in  like  sheep,  with  hardly  room  to  stand. 
Private  Lantry  shot  private  Black,  both  of  A :  cause, 
rum. 

Next  day  was  clear  and  cold, 

January  10th,  the  first  and  third  brigades 
marched  in  a  cold  rain  through  the  mud,  and  em 
barked  under  sealed  orders.  January  11,  the  bat 
talion  went  on  board  the  steamer  Manhattan.  At 
midnight,  January  12,  they  were  transferred  to  the 
steamer  Illinois.  Friday,  January  13,  they  were 
towed  to  sea  by  tugs.  Touching  at  Fortress  Monroe 
and  taking  on  board  rations,  they  steamed  out  to  sea 
the  same  night.  The  water  was  rough,  but  the 
Illinois  came  to  anchor  at  evening,  January  16,  off 
the  Savannah  bar.  January  17th,  they  waited  all 
day  for  a  pilot.  Wednesday  morning,  January  18th, 


246 

they  weighed  anchor  and  stood  off  in  the  direction  of 
Hilton  Head ;  but  soon  meeting  the  steamer  on 
which  was  General  Grover,  they  returned  at  his  sig 
nal  to  the  mouth  of  the  Savannah.  January  19th, 
they  landed  at  last  in  the  evening,  two  lighters  hav 
ing  taken  them  up  to  the  city.  January  20,  they 
went  in  a  rain  storm  to  the  Central  Railroad  Depot, 
which  tiiey  occupied  a  week.  January  26,  they 
moved  a  mile  to  the  fortifications  on  the  south  side  of 
the  city  and  went  into  camp  there.  January  27,  at 
night  the  great  conflagration  occurred  in  the  city, 
reaching  a  magazine  of  shells,  of  which  the  explosions 
resembled  the  noise  of  a  bombardment. 

At  Savannah,  Captain  Bradley  commenced  a  series 
of  inspections,  and  used  extraordinary  efforts  for 
improving  the  condition  and  appearance  of  the  men. 
He  enforced  the  most  rigid  discipline  and  displayed 
many  admirable  traits  of  a  commander.  The  bat 
talion  soon  assumed  the  beauty  and  good  order  which 
had  so  distinguished  the  Thirteenth  in  its  early  his 
tory,  and  which  their  constant  hard  service  in  the 
field  had  to  a  great  extent  rendered  impracticable  for 
nearly  three  years.  The  weather  being  mild  the  bat 
talion  recovered  from  the  hardships  of  the  preceding 
fall  and  winter.  The  principal  work  was  picket  duty. 

Wednesday,  March  8,  the  battalion  received  orders 
to  be  ready  to  move  at  a  moment's  notice  with  three 
days'  cooked  rations.  Sunday,  March  12,  reveille  was 
had  at  three  and  a  half  A.  M.  At  nine  P.  M.  the  bat 
talion  embarked  on  Steamer  Yazoo  for  Morehead 
City,  North  Carolina.  Monday,  March  13,  they  ar 
rived  off  the  mouth  of  Cape  Fear  river.  A  dispatch 
boat  brought  orders  to  proceed  to  Beaufort,  North 


247 

Carolina.  The  Yazoo  put  out  to  sea  again.  Next 
morning  they  landed  at  Morehead  City,  marched  a 
mile  up  the  railroad  and  took  cars  for  Newbern.  Here 
they  arrived  late  in  the  evening,  March  14.  The 
Thirteenth  proceeded  on  board  a  small  boat  at  mid 
night,  as  a  guard  of  commissary  stores.  On  the  fif 
teenth  they  steamed  slowly  up  the  Neuse  river. 
Thursday,  March  16,  they  remained  in  one  spot  all 
day.  Friday,  they  steamed  slowly  along,  and  an 
chored  at  night.  Saturday  was  a  repetition  of  the 
preceding  day.  They  tied  to  the  bank  at  dark.  Sun 
day  they  started  at  daylight  and  moved  through  the 
interminable  cypress  swamp.  At  noon  this  extraordi 
nary  journey  ended,  the  battalion  reaching  Kinston. 
Here  they  met  many  of  the  Fifteenth  Connecticut. 

At  nine  and  a  half,  next  morning,  they  started  on 
the  return  to  Newbern,  which  they  reached  in  five 
hours.  Here  they  went  into  camp  near  the  barracks. 
The  ground  was  a  drifting  sand  heap.  March  24, 
eight  hundred  rebel  prisoners  arrived  from  Golds- 
borough.  March  28,  a  large  number  of  prisoners  and 
refugees.  March  29,  seven  hundred  rebel  prisoners 
came,  and  among  them  private  John  J.  Lloyd,  who 
had  been  captured  at  Winchester  the  nineteenth  of 
September,  and  after  various  romantic  adventures, 
had  found  himself  there. 

April^,  Captain  Perkins  was  sent  with  a  detail  of 
thirty  men  to  conduct  four  hundred  rebel  prisoners 
to  Hart  Island.  The  battalion  remained  in  Newbern 
on  provost  duty  giving  great  satisfaction  to  all  well- 
disposed  persons,  and  winning  the  reputation  of  being 
the  handsomest  and  most  orderly  troops  ever  seen  in 
Newbern.  April  6,  tidings  came  of  the  capture  of 


248 

Richmond  and  Petersburg!!.  April  7,  General  Birge 
gave  a  brilliant  soiree  at  his  house  in  Newbern.  April 
8,  the  battalion  received  orders  to  go  by  rail  to  More- 
head  City,  where  they  went  into  camp  on  the  left  (fac 
ing  the  harbor)  of  the  railroad,  and  were  brigaded 
under  command  of  Colonel  Graham,  Twenty-second 
Iowa.  April  11,  news  came  of  Lee's  surrender,  and 
the  joyful  event  was  celebrated  by  a  great  "jollifica 
tion." 

April  12,  the  writer  arrived  with  Lieut.  Gardner 
from  rebel  prisons  and  assumed  command  of  the  bat 
talion. 

Nothing  of  note  occurred  till  May  -2,  when  orders 
came  to  hold  the  command  in  readiness  to  move  next 
morning  at  daylight.  We  remained  all  day  and  night 
waiting  to  embark.  Thursday,  May  4,  at  two  P.  M., 
we  finally  went  on  board  the  steamer  Neptune.  May 
7,  at  8  A.  M.  after  a  smooth  passage  from  North  Caro 
lina,  we  disembarked  at  Savannah.  Here  we  went 
into  the  buildings  formerly  occupied  by  the  Fourteenth 
New  Hampshire.  Our  brigade  comprised  the  Twenty- 
second  and  Twenty-eighth  Iowa,  the  One  Hundred 
Thirty-first  and  One  Hundred  Fifty-ninth  New  York 
and  Thirteenth  Connecticut. 

Our  stay  in  Savannah  was  brief,  lasting  but  four 
days.  Orders  came  at  two  A.  M.,  May  11,  to  be  ready 
to  march  at  eight  A.  M.  witli  three  days'  cocked  ra 
tions.  At  nine  we  marched  out  on  the  Augusta  road 
thirteen  miles  and  then  bivouaced.  When  we  were 
seven  miles  out,  those  of  our  New  Orleans  recruits, 
thirty  or  forty  in  number,  whose  term  was  to  expire  in 
May,  were  sent  back  to  Savannah  for  muster  out  by 
order  of  General  Birge.  May  12,  we  marched  six- 


249 

teen  miles.  May  13,  we  marched  eight  miles,  arriv 
ing  at  Sisters  Ferry  at  nine  A.  M.  Here  we  got  rations 
that  came  by  steamer.  As  evidence  of  the  destitution 
of  the  people  in  this  country,  women  and  children 
came  barefoot  eight  or  ten  miles  to  beg  of  us  a  little 
"  hardtack."  Fifty  men  of  the  Thirteenth  were  here 
put  aboard  steamer  for  Augusta.  We  left  private 
Henry  Williams,  Company  D,  sick  of  small  pox.  He 
soon  after  died  ;  the  only  man  we  ever  lost  by  that 
disease. 

For  several  days  we  continued  the  march,  having 
reveille  at  three  A.  M.  and  starting  at  four.  Quite  a 
rivalry  existed  among  the  regiments  in  the  matter  of 
rapid  marching.  Two  regiments,  when  the  news 
came  of  Jeff.  Davis'  capture,  were  permitted  to  leave 
their  knapsacks  in  order  that  they  might  sooner  reach 
Augusta  ;  whereupon  the  Thirteenth,  determined  not 
to  be  outdone,  though  heavily  loaded  with  knapsacks, 
followed  close  on  their  heels  and  twice  passed  them  on 
the  road  ;  making  twenty-six  miles  May  16. 

The  people  along  the  route  looked  with  little  favor 
upon  the  Yankee  invaders  as  they  termed  us.  A 
number  of  officers,  at  one  of  pur  halts,  visited  one  of 
the  fine  residences  and  were  entertained  by  several 
ladies  with  songs  and  instrumental  music.  One,  more 
demonstrative  than  the  rest,  sung  Maryland,  My 
Maryland,  with  extraordinary  gusto.  Concluding, 
she  tuined  to  Dr.  Clarke  and  said  to  that  urbane  gen 
tlemen  in  a  snappish  way,  "  I  spose  that  makes*  ye 
mad  ;  don't  it  ?"  To  which  the  Dr.  retorted  with  pro 
voking  coolness,  "  0,  no.  We  don't  care  what  ye 
sing,  as  long  as  we  can  lick  ye !"  She  rejoined, 
« We're  not  whipped.  We're  only  overpowered." 
22 


250 

"  That's  what  we  call  licked  in  the  North,"  said  the 
Doctor. 

May  19,  at  ten  A.  M.  we  arrived  in  Augusta,  having 
marched  twelve  miles  that  morning.  We  went  into 
an  old  Confederate  shoe-factory,  corner  of  Campbell 
and  Ellis  streets.  May  21,  we  moved  into  the  Con 
federate  buildings  known  as  the  Blackie  Hospital, 
corner  of  Washington  and  Watkins  streets,  on  ground 
owned  by  the  Orphan  Asylum. 

Our  stay  in  Augusta  continued  till  August  27.  Cap 
tain  Bradley  was  absent  on  Court  Martial  in  Savan 
nah  until  his  resignation  in  August.  Captain  Wells 
had  long  been  detached  as  aide  of'  General  Birge ; 
Captain  Perkins  was  Acting  Inspector  General  on 
Molineux's  staff.  Captain  Beck  with  was  soon  detailed 
as  ordnance  officer.  Surgeon  Clary  was  Surgeon-ill- 
chief,  and  in  charge  of  the  Post  Hospital.  Lieut. 
Col.  Sprague,  in  addition  to  his  other  duties,  was  ap 
pointed  Superintendent  of  Schools,  and  Educational 
Matters,  and  Superintendent  of  Public  Buildings  and 
all  property  appertaining  to  the  Ordnance  Depart 
ment. 

The  battalion  was  assigned  to  provost  duty  which  it 
performed  to  the  highest  satisfaction  of  the  good  peo 
ple  of  Augusta.  Their  quarters  became  a  model  of 
neatness,  and  the  battalion  never  looked  finer.  Hun 
dreds  of  dollars  were  expended  to  procure  the  men 
white  gloves  and  blacking.  Many  were  the  compli- 
meflts  we  received,  of  which  the  following  is  a  speci 
men  : 


251 

u  He  ad- Quarters,  Post  Augusta,  \ 
June  1,  1865.      J 

Colonel : 

The  General  is  very  much  pleased  with  the  neat 
and  soldierly  appearance  of  your  guard  this  morning, 
and  thinks  it  a  decided  criterion  for  the  other  regi 
ments,  Respectfully  yours, 

HENRY  LAWRENCE, 

Post  Adjutant. 
To  Col.  H.  B.  Spragae, 

Commanding  Thirteenth  Connecticut  Yols. 

On  the  sixth  of  June,  1865,  the  following  appeared 
in  the  Augusta  Chronicle  and  Sentinel  : 

"  A  stranger,  who  only  saw  the  beautiful  parade  of 
the  Thirteenth  Battalion,  Connecticut  Volunteers  on 
Friday  last,  or  who  only  witnessed  every  morning  the 
white  gloves,  the  glittering  arms  and  burnished  scales 
of  the  handsome  detachment  which  this  Battalion 
daily  sends  to  Head-quarters  on  guard  duty,  would 
hardly  suppose  that  these  men  had  done  some  of  the 
most  gallant  fighting  and  encountered  many  of  the 
severest  hardships  of  the  war  for  three  and  a  half 
years  past.  Such,  however,  is  the  fact.  At  Irish 
Bend,  at  Winchester,  at  Cedar  Creek,  at  Fisher's 
Hill,  and  in  many  another  hard  fight  their  colors  have 
been  riddled  with  shot  and  shell,  and  the  earth  has 
copiously  drunk  their  blood.  Of  two  thousand  men 
who  have  belonged  to  the  Thirteenth  Connecticut,  this 
little  Battalion  is  all  that  remains. 

"  A  single  incident  illustrates  its  spirit.  On  the  fif 
teenth  of  June,  1863,  after  several  most  bloody  and  dis 
astrous  assaults  on  Port  Hudson,  General  Banks  pub 
lished  his  famous  order  calling  on  the  thirty  regi- 


252 

merits  of  the  Union  army  for  volunteers  to  form  a 
storming  column  of  one  thousand  men  to  lead  the 
last  desperate  charge  on  the  rebel  works.  Colonel 
Henry  W.  Birge,  now  Brevet  Major  General  com 
manding  defences  of  Savannah,  immediately  volun 
teered  to  lead  this  Forlorn  Hope  ;  and  two  hundred 
and  twenty-five  men  and  fifteen  officers  of  his  regi 
ment,  the  gallant  Thirteenth  Connecticut,  volunteered 
to  follow  him  !  So  that  this  regiment  alone  furnished 
more  men  for  this  storming  p^rty  than  any  other 
whole  brigade.  Surely,  having  won  the  honors^  they 
have  a  right  to  wear  the  laurels !" 

These  praises  were  well-deserved.  No  troops, 
white  or  bladk,  regulars  or  volunteers,  ever  kept  their 
quarters,  grounds,  clothing,  arms  or  accoutrements  in 
handsomer  condition  than  the  Thirteenth  at  Blackie 
Hospital.  Three  bathing  rooms  were  fitted  up  for  the 
men  and  one  for  the  officers.*  The  most  scrupulous 
cleanliness  was  enforced.  For  months  Dr.  Clark  was 
not  obliged  to  send  a  man  to  hospital. 

July  18,  the  writer  was  appointed  President  of  a 
board  to  examine  Commissioned  Officers  with  a  view 
to  their  promotion  or  discharge. 

July  21,  the  Thirteenth  moved  with  the  One  Hun 
dred  Fifty-ninth  New  York  to  the  Augusta  Arsenal 
where  they  remained  five  weeks.  July  22,  the  writer 
started  for  Annapolis  as  witness  in  a  Court  Martial, 
-and  was  absent  several  weeks. 

August  25,  orders  came  for  the  battalion  to  move 
to  Gainesville,  Ga.  August  27,  the  battalion  pro 
ceeded  to  Athens,  whence  they  marched  to  Gaines 
ville,  Hall  County.  The  district  of  Gainesville  com 
prised  ten  or  a  dozen  counties  of  Northeast  Georgia. 


253 

It  was  a  position  of  difficulty  and  importance,  inas 
much  as  it  was  infested  with  guerillas,  bushwhackers 
and  desperadoes  from  three  States.  Company  A, 
Lieut.  Gardner,  was  stationed  at  Jefferson,  Jackson 
County  ;  Company  B,  Lieut.  Taylor,  at  Clarkesville, 
Habersham  County  ;  Company  D,  Lieut.  Maddux,  at 
Clayton,  Rabun  County  ;  Companies  C  and  E,  Cap 
tains  Beckwith  and  Sterry,  at  Gainesville,  the  battal 
ion  head-quarters.  Lieut.  Col.  Sprague  was  detained 
at  Augusta  as  President  of  a  Military  Commission. 

About  the  middle  of  September,  Lieuts.  Pratt  and 
Baldwin  were  detailed  as  members  of  a  Court  Martial 
at  Washington,  Wilkes  County.  Much  game  abounds 
here  ;  and  one  Lieutenant  is  said  to  have  displayed 
great  enthusiasm  in  bagging  an  imaginary  species  of 
bird,  known  as  Yelpertrechers !  The  process  is  as 
follows  :  After  the  New  England  mode  of  snaring  rab 
bits,  paths  are  made  through  the  thicket,  all  converg 
ing  to  the  point  where  the  bag  is.  They  must  be 
hunted  only  by  night.  One  person  holds  the  bag — 
the  post  of  honor  !  The  rest  of  the  party  go  away 
ostensibly  to  beat  the  bush  and  drive  in  the  game  ; 
but  really  to  disperse  to  their  homes  or  meet  at  their 
rendezvous  !  How  many  our  worthy  Lieutenant 
would  have  caught  had  he  remained  all  night  is  un 
certain.  But  after  two  hours  waiting,  he  discovered 
that  the  bag  had  no  bottom,  and  not  a  solitary  Yelper- 
trecher  ! 

October  17,  the  companies  received  orders  to  con 
centrate  at  Athens,  Clarke  County.  October  19,  pur 
suant  to  new  orders,  A  was  sent  to  Washington,  Ga.  ; 
C,  to  Carnesville  ;  E,  to  Lexington  ;  B  and  D  were 
retained  at  Athens.  The  duties  of  officers  at  these 
22* 


254 

county  seats  were  to  preserve  order,  approve  con 
tracts  between  whites  and  negroes,  and  administer  the 
amnesty  oath. 

Athens  is  the  seat  of  the  State  University.  In  the 
college  buildings  the  Thirteenth  was  quartered, 
Drills,  inspections  and  dress  parades  were  held  in  the 
camps.  Captain  Wells,  having  just  returned,  was  Pro 
vost  Marshal ;  Lieut.  Tooker,  quartermaster ;  Lieut. 
Gaylord,  adjutant.  Sergeant  Pfeiffer  had  charge  of 
Cook's  Armory.  Sergent  Santer,  of  the  jail ;  Hunt- 
ley,  of  the  wood-choppers ;  and  Beecher,  of  the  Post 
Office. 

November  8,  Lieut.  Col.  Sprague  arrived  and  as 
sumed  command  of  the  District  of  Athens,  which 
comprised  the  counties  of  Rabun,  Habersham,  Towns, 
Franklin,  Banks,  White,  Hall,  Hart,  Clarke,  Wilkes, 
Elbert,  Jacks.on,  Walton,  Oglethorpe  ;  head-quarters 
at  Athens. 

November  15,  Lieut.  Maddux  had  leave  of  absence. 
He  never  returned. 

In  the  latter  part  of  November  rumors  extensively 
prevailed  of  an  intention  among  the  blacks  to  massa 
cre  all  the  whites  on  the  first  of  December.  A  negro 
near  Watkinsville  had  been  seen  with  a  shot  gun. 
Another  said,  "  We's  gwine  to  have  our  rights." 
Another,  sixty  years  old,  had  been  a  servant  in  the 
Confederate  army,  and  his  master  had  told  him  he 
knew  enough  to  be  Captain  ;  and  so  Uncle  Reuben 
was  called  Major.  A  single-barrel  pistol  had  been 
found  in  a  black  man's  trunk.  Mr.  Phinizy  of  Athens, 
had  picked  up  a  mysterious  letter  containing  dark 
hints.  A  secret  association  for  mutual  improvement 
among  the  colored  people  was  known  to  be  holding 


255 

weekly  meetings.  Two  young  men  came  riding  at  a 
furious  speed  from  Mistress  King's  plantation  three 
miles  from  Athens,  and  reported  that  they  had  blacked 
their  faces  and  had  smuggled  themselves  into  one  of 
these  secret  meetings,  and  had  heard, — well,  they 
hadn't  heard  anything,  but  they  were  satisfied  mischief 
was  brewing,  and  they  demanded  a  guard.  Eleven 
negroes  were  dragged  out  of  bed  at  Watkinsville  at 
midnight,  taken  a  mile  off  to  the  river  bank,  made  to 
kneel  on  the  brink,  blindfolded,  pistols  were  fired  over 
their  heads,  their  hands  were  tied,  a  solemn  oath  ad 
ministered,  and  instant  death  threatened  if  they  did 
not  say  they  belonged  to  an  armed  association ;  and 
on  such  extorted,  contradictory,  and  utterly  vague 
confessions,  the  Sheriff  of  the  County,  and  a  magis 
trate  of  the  (terribly)  Inferior  Court,  had  them  ar 
rested  and  brought  before  the  writer.  The  whole 
country  was  in  a  state  of  consternation,  and  applica 
tions  innumerable  were  made  for  guards  of  soldiers. 
And  all  arose  out  of  precisely  nothing.  The  credulity 
of  these  people  was  stupendous. 

November  29,  Lieut.  Pratt  was  detailed  for  duty  in 
the  Freedmen's  Bureau.  December  1,  Captain  Wells 
was  sent  with  companies  A  and  B  to  Washington,  Ga. 
December  4,  the  writer  was  appointed  Commissioner 
of  the  Freedmen's  Bureau  for  the  District  of  Athens. 
The  same  day  the  battalion  removed  from  the  college 
buildings  to  the  Military  Academy  a  mile  and  a  half 
distant,  to  give  opportunity  for  repairs  in  view  of  the 
coming  session. 

December  6,  Acting  Commissary  Sergeant  W.  H. 
Tucker,  died  from  injuries  received  by  being  dashed 
against  a  tree,  while  on  horseback  three  days  before. 


256 

He  was  a  brave,  faithful,  intelligent  man.  We  buried 
him  with  military  honors,  the  Episcopal  service  being 
read  by  Lieut.  Col.  Sprague. 

December  23,  a  circus  was  exhibited  in  Athens,  at 
which  Sergeant  Sperry  with  a  guard  was  sent  from 
the  Thirteenth  by  request  of  the  Mayor.  The  civil 
authorities  soon  sent  back  the  military  guard  as  being 
unnecessary,  and  the  consequence  was  that  the  per 
formance  broke  up  in  a  "  free  fight." 

The  same  day  orders  were  received  to  move  the 
battalion  head-quarters  to  the  Augusta  Arsenal  with 
Companies  A  and  B.  Company  C,  Lieut.  Baldwin, 
was  sent  to  Washington,  Ga. ;  Company  D,  Captain 
Beckwith,  was  sent  to  Sparta,  Hancock  County ; 
Company  E,  Captain  Sterry,  was  left  at  Athens. 

Christm'as  day  was  celebrated  in  Southern  style.  A 
great  uprising  of  the  negroes  was  anticipated  by  the 
feeble-minded.  For  abundant  caution  a  large  num 
ber  of  supernumerary  policemen  were  sworn  in,  each 
of  whom  armed  himself  with  a  pistol  and  a  brandy 
flask.  Towards  evening  they  were  all  drunk.  The 
Thirteenth  being  on  the  eve  of  departure  for  Augusta, 
many  of  the  soldiers  were  insulted  and  attacked  on 
the  streets.  The  citizens  formed  line  of  battle  across 
the  street  and  refused  to  let  soldiers  pass.  Where 
upon  the  latter  came  rushing  to  the  Military  Academy 
to  get  their  muskets.  Great  was  the  alarm.  Guns, 
pistols,  knives  and  clubs  were  freely  used.  The  ven 
erable  Dr.  Hoyt,  Presbyterian  clergyman,  a  man  of 
great  worth,  hastened  to  the  writer,  and  begged  him 
to  use  all  his  power  to  quell  the  riot.  The  mayor 
sent  two  messengers  on  the  same  errand  ;  the  first  of 
whom  was  intercepted  by  the  soldiers,  beaten  and  sent 


257 

back.     The  second  was  more  successful.     He  brought 
the  following  communication  : 

Col.  Sprage,  Dr. 

The  excitement  Doun  Toun  great.  I  fear  there 
will  great  trouble  Some  of  our  young  Man  are  ex 
cited  and  Some  of  yours  under  influence  of  Spirit. 
They  have  already  met  in  combat  and  there  wll  be 
Serious  times.  I  hope  col  You  will  in  behalf  of  the 
law  and  Order  Citizens  protetct  The  Town. 

You  Respec. 
S.  C.  Reese, 

Mayor. 
Dec.  25, 
1865. 

Seizing  and  detaining  every  soldier,  as  they  came 
running  back,  the  writer  sent  Captain  Beckwith  with 
about  twenty  picked  men,  mostly  non-commissioned 
officers,  with  orders  to  arrest  all  soldiers  and  disorder 
ly  persons,  shut  up  every  dram  shop,  and  notify  every 
proprietor  of  places  where  liquor  was  kept,  that  if 
another  glass  was  sold  or  given  away  the  entire  stock 
would  instantly  be  smashed  and  the  owner,  imprison 
ed.  When  the  captain  arrived  in  sight,  the  line  of 
citizens  broke  and  vanished.  Perfect  order  reigned 
through  the  night  in  that  literary  town. 

Next  morning  the  troops  left  by  rail. 

Wednesday  evening,  December  27,  Companies  A 
and  B  arrived  in  Augusta.  Captain  Gardner  was  sent 
with  A  to  the  powder  mills  ;  Lieut.  Taylor,  with  B, 
to  the  arsenal.  Captain  Wells  was  detached  as  A.  A. 
A.  General  on  General  King's  staff. 

January  3,  1866,  the  battalion  was  relieved  from 
duty  at  Augusta,  and  ordered  to  garrison  the  District 


^258 

of  Alatoona,  Northwest  Georgia,  comprising  about 
one  fourth  of  the  state,  with  head-quarters  at  Atlanta. 
Company  B,  Lieut.  Taylor,  was  left  .for  guard  at  De 
partment  Head-quarters.  Lieut.  Col.  Sprague  and 
Lieut.  Gaylord  were  retained  as  members  of  a  Milita 
ry  Commission ;  Captain  Perkins  was  Provost  Marshal-, 
the  duties  of  which  office  he  had  been  discharging  for 
several  months. 

Lieut.  Taylor,  with  his  company,  had  charge  of 
the  Augusta  jail  for  a  few  weeks,  and  then  removed 
to  the  first  building  occupied  by  the  Thirteenth  in 
Augusta,  corner  of  Campbell  and  Ellis  streets. 

Captains  Sterry  and  Gardner  and  Lieut.  Baldwin 
arrived  with  E,  A,  and-  C,  in  Atlanta,  January  10  ; 
Beckwith,  with  D,  January  11.  The  soldiers  were 
quartered  in  tents  and  in  the  City-Hall,  and  soon  after 
wards  D  and  E  were  put  into  log  houses.  These  were 
without  floors,  the  ground  was  muddy,  and  the  weath 
er  severe.  Beckwith  commanded  the  District ;  and 
Sterry  the  battalion.  Little  of  interest  occurred  here. 
The  soldiers  were  most  uncomfortable ;  and  despite 
the  judicious  efforts  of  Drs.  Clary  and  Clark,  many  of 
them  became  sick. 

Atlanta  had  been  a  vast  wreck  ;  a  chaos  of  ashes, 
burnt  walls,  cinders,  and  the  "  abomination  of  desola 
tion  ;"  but  it  was  now  rapidly  reviving,  and  the 
sound  of  the  hammer  and  the  saw  was  heard  on 
every  side. 

In  February,  Lieut  .Baldwin  seized  a  rebel  flag  which 
was  flying  on  a  locomotive,  as  it  passed  through  the  city. 
The  engineer  and  fireman  were  sent  to  Augusta,  and 
there  released  under  bonds  by  Captain  Perkins,  Provost 
Marshal.  Soon  after,  Lieut.  Baldwin  was  sent  with 


Company  C  to  Dahlonega,  to  guard  the  U.  S.   Mint 
and  other  national  property  and  preserve  the  peace. 

In  March,  Lieut.  Taylor  with  his  company  was  sent 
to  Atlanta. 

Great  discontent  prevailed  among  the  soldiers  at 
being  kept  beyond  the  term  for  which  they  re-enlisted ; 
they  always  insisting  that  the  government  had  no 
right  to  detain  them  beyond  the  expiration  of  the  war. 
Numerous  applications  by  the  battalion  commander  to 
secure  their  muster-out  were  unsuccessful,  until  April 
13,  1866,  when  orders  came  for  the  battalion  to  ren 
dezvous  atFortPulaski  for  that  purpose.  They  arrived 
there  Friday,  April  20.  April  25,  we  were  mustered 
out  by  Major  Butler.  April  28,  we  took  the  govern 
ment  boat  for  Savannah  ;  where  we  were  transferred 
to  the  ocean  steamer  General  Barnes,  for  New  York. 
At  five  o'clock  P.  M.,  April  28,  we  left  Savannah.  As 
we  passed  Fort  Pulaski,  we  were  saluted  with  six  guns. 
The  One  hundred  Seventy-sixth  New  York  accompa 
nied  us. 

Tuesday  morning,  May  1,  we  reached  New  York 
city.  We  were  taken  by  government  steamer  to  Hart 
Island,  twenty-two  miles  distant.  Here  the  enlisted 
men  were  paid  on  Saturday,  May  5.  They  took  the 
Paymaster's  boat  for  New  York  City,  and  there  dis 
persed.  The  officers  were  detained  till  Monday,  May 
7,  when  they  too  met  for,  the  last  time,  and  parted. 

So  dissolved  the  last  military  organization  from  Con 
necticut  in  the  service  of  the  United  States ;  twelve 
officers  and  one  hundred  and  seventy-seven  men  only 
remaining  of  the  thousands  who  had  marched  under 
the  blue  folds  of  our  Connecticut  flag. 


APPENDIX, 


ORIGINAL  THIRTEENTH    REGIMENT  INFANTRY, 

FIELD  AND  STAFF. 

COLONEL. 

HENRY  W.  BIRGE,  Norwich,  Nov.  9,  1861*;  promoted  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S. 
Vols.  Sept.  19,  1863. 

LIEUTENANT-COLOXEL. 

ALEXANDER  WARNER,  Woodstock,  April   9,  1862;  resigned,  July  29, 
1863. 

MAJOR. 

RICHARD  E.  HOLCOMB,  East  Granby,  Feb.  18, 1862;  appointed  Colonel 
1st  La.  Vols.  Aug.  16,  1862. 

ADJUTANT. 

WM.  M.  GROSVENOR,  New  Haven,  Feb.  18,  1862;   promoted   Captain; 
disc,  to  rec.  commission  Oct.  29,  1863. 

QUARTERMASTER. 

JOSEPH  B.  BROMLEY,  Norwich,  Feb.  19, 1862;  resigned  Dec.  29,  1868. 

CHAPLAIN. 

CHARLES  C.  SALTER,  New  Haven,  Feb.  27, 1862;  resigned  June  15, 1862. 

SURGEON. 

BENJAMIN  N.  COMINGS,  New  Britain,  Feb.  18,  1862;  resigned  January 
26,  1863. 

1ST   ASSISTANT   SURGEON. 

GEORGE  CLARY,  Hartford,  Feb.  18,  1862;  promoted  Surgeon  May  23, 
1863. 

2D   ASSISTANT   SURGEON. 

NATHAN  A.  FISHER,  Norwich,  Feb.  4,  1862 ;  resigned  June  16,  1863. 

SERGEANT   MAJOR. 

GEORGE  W.  WHITTLESEY,  Norwich,  Feb.  18, 1862;  promoted  Adjutant; 
resigned  for  disability  Oct.  9,  1863. 

Q.    M.    SERGEANT. 

ANDREW  T.  JOHNSON,  Montville,  Feb.  18,  1862;  promoted  2d  Lieuten 
ant  Company  A;  killed  on  railroad  Nov.  7,  1862. 


*The  first  date  in  each  case  is  the  date  of  muste? 
23 


262 


COMMISSARY    SERGEANT. 

CHARLES  A.  TRACY,  Montville,  Feb.  18,  1862;  promoted  Lieutenant  1st 
La.  Vols.  July  16,  1862. 

HOSPITAL   STEWARD. 

WILLIAM  BISHOP,  Southington,  Feb.  18, 1862;  promoted  Quartermaster 
May  1,  1864. 

PRINCIPAL   MUSICIAN. 

JOSEPH  HADLEY,  New  London,  Feb.  18,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran 
February  8,  1864. 

OFFICERS  APPOINTED  SINCE  FIRST  MUSTER. 

CHAPLAIN. 
HENRY  UPSON,  Berlin,  June  16,  1862;  resigned  July  20,  1863. 

2D    ASSISTANT    SURGEONS. 

SAMUEL  MCCLELLAN,  New  Haven,  March  14,1863;  promoted  1st  As 
sistant  Surgeon  July  9,  1863. 

Lucius  W.  CLARK,  Winchester,  July  9,  1863. 


ORIGINAL  INFANTRY   COMPANY  A. 

.<• 

CAPTAIN. 

Henry   L.  Bidwell,    Brooklyn,    N.   Y.,  Feb.  18,  1862;    dishonorably  dis 
charged  Aug.  25,  1862. 

1ST    LIEUTENANT. 

John  E.  Woodruff,  New  Britain,  Feb.  18,  1862;  resigned  June  21,  1862. 

2D    LIEUTENANT. 

Charles   H.  Cornwall,    New  Britain,    Feb.  18,  1862;    promoted   Captain 
Sept,  1,  1862. 

SERGEANTS. 

Richard  Cowles,  Farmington,  Jan.  7,  1862;  died  Feb.  19,  1862. 

Frank  E.  Stanley,  New  Britain,  Dec.  22,  1861;  killed  at  Irish  Bend,  La., 

April  14,  1863. 

Hiram  Griggs,  Plymouth,  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  April  4,  1863. 
Nelson  W.  Steele,  New  Britain,  Dec.  22,  1861. 
Charles  R.  Gladden,  New  Britain,  Dec.  22,  1861;  died  July  1,  1863. 

CORPORALS. 

Frank  W.  Stanley,  New  Britain,  Dec.  30,  1861;  died  May,  1863,  of  wounds 

received  at  Irish  Bend,  La. 
Henry  H.  Porter,  Glastenbury,  Dec.  22,  1861;   discharged  for  disability 

Feb.  22,  1863. 


263 

Norman  W.  Warren,  New  Britain,  Dec.  30, 1861;  discharged  for  disability 

May  24,  1863. 
Devereaux  Jones,  New  Britain,  Jan.  22,  1862;  transferred  to  1st  Louisiana 

Eegiment  Aug.  17,  1862. 

Walter  G.  Carpenter,  New  Britain,  Dec.  30,  1861;  died  Nov.  17,  1862. 
Newton  W.  Perkins,  New  Britain,  Dec.  22.  1861;  promoted  1st  Lieutenant 

May  1,  1864. 
Mortimer  H.  Stanley,  New  Britain,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  discharged  to  receive 

commission  Aug.  14,  1863. 

Bernard  Fagan,  New  Britain,  Dec.  22, 1861;  discharged  for  disability  July 
29,  1862. 

MUSICIANS. 

Charles  N.  Merwin,   New  Haven,   Dec.  22,  1861;   died  July  5,  1863,  of 

wounds  received  at  Port  Hudson,  La. 
William  H.  Moore,  Wallingford,  Feb.  27,  1862;  died  June,  1863. 

WAGONER. 

John  C.  North,  New  Britain,  Jan.  7,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 
1864. 

PRIVATES. 

Ackley,  John  F.,  New  Britain,  Jan.  7,  1862. 

Alger,  Albert,  Colchester,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  May 
24,  1862. 

Alger,  Henry,  Colchester,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  May  24, 
1862. 

Alger,  William,  Colchester,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  drowned  at  New  Orleans  July 
22,  1863. 

BarroAvs,  Wm.  H.,  Farmington,  Jan.  8, 1862;  discharged  for  disability  July 
14,  1862. 

Bassett,  Milton  H.,  New  Britain,  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  to  enter  tele 
graph  corps,  Aug.  17,  1863. 

Bassett,  Federick  H.,  New  Britain.  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  to  enter  tel 
egraph  corps  Aug.  17,  1863. 

Benham,  George  B.,  Oxford,  Dec.  22,  1851. 

Billington,  Dexter  R.,  Killingly,  Feb.  11,  1862;  discharged  to  accept  ap 
pointment  as  Hospital  Steward. 

Bissell,  Frederick  I.  Glastenbury,  Jan.  22,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran 
Feb.  8,  1864. 

Brady,  Joseph  P.  Goshen,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran,  Feb.  8, 
1864. 

Bronson,  William  C.  New  Britain,  Dec.  30,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability 
May  30,  1862. 

Brown,  Robert,  Farmington,  Jan.  22V1862;  discharged  for  disability  Dec. 
31,  1863. 

Carter,  James  W.,  Wethersfield,  Feb.  5,  1862;  discharged  for  disability 
May  24,  1863. 


264 

Clark,  Linus  M.,  Bristol,  Dec.  22,  1861;   re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Connelly,  Cornelius,  New  Britain,  Jan.  8,  1862;  discharged  for  disability 

Feb.  22,  1863. 

Coyle,  Barney,  New  Britain,  Jan.  6.  1862. 
Cunningham,  Michael,  Bristol,  Feb.  10,  1862. 
Curtiss,  Joel,  New  Britain,  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  May 

24,  1863. 

DeWolf,  Edward,  Farmington,  Feb.  H,  1862;  died  Oct.  15,  1863. 
Dow,  Newel,  Wethersfield,  Dec.  31,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  June 

1,  1862. 

Deming,  Francis  B.,  March  15,  1862. 
Egan,  Walter,  New  Britain,  Jan.  7,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Ellwood,  William,  Newtown,  Feb.  11,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May 

24,  1862. 
Emmons,  Nelson,  Colchester,  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  July 

5.  1863. 

Fagan,  Christopher  C.,  New  Britain,  Jan.  6,  1862. 
Fagan,  John,  New  Britain,  Jan.  6,  1862. 
Gaffney,  Francis  J.,  New  Britain,  Dec.  30,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Feb.  29,  1864. 

Gilbert,  James,  Farmington,  Jan.  28,  1862;  died  Oct.  15,  1863. 
Gilbert,  Orrin  C.,  New  Britain,  Jan.  6,  1862 ;  discharged  for  disability  May 

31,  1862. 
Gladden,  Azariah,  Farmington,  Jan.  7,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  July 

31,  1862. 

Gladden,  William  H.,  New  Britain,  Dec.  22, 1861. 
Haffy,  James,  New  Britain,  Dec.  31, 1861;  discharged  for  disability  May 

30,  1862. 

Hall,  Josiah  S  ,  Bristol,  Feb.  1,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  1864. 
Harlow,  Edward,  Wethersfield,  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  for  disability 

May  31,  1862. 

Hart/Alverda  S.,  New  Britain,  Dec.  22,  1861.  . 

Hart,  Henry  C.,  Farmington,  Feb.  10,  1862. 
Hassan,  James,  New  Britain,  Jan.  8,  1862;  died  Sept.  5,  1863. 
Hotchkiss,  Wm.  S.,  Farmington,  Dec.  22,  1861;  ^re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Feb.  8,  1864. 

Hurley,  Thomas,  New  Britain,  Jan.  22,  1862;  died  March  30, 1864. 
James,  Henry  B.,  Colchester,  Jan.  8,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  March 

14,  1862. 
Keaney,   William,  New  Britain,   Jan.   8,  1862;   discharged  for  disability 

Aug.  24,  1863. 
Lantry,  Edward,  New  Britain,  Dec.  30,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Lewis,  James  C.,  New  Britain,  Dec.  31,  1861;  died  Nov.  9,  1862. 


265 

Lloyd,  John  J.,  Farmington,  Jan.  7,  1862. 

Long,  Julius  F.,  East  Hartford,  Dec.  30,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 

Mack,  Joseph  S.,  New  Britain,  Dec.  30,  1861. 
Maguire,  John,  New  Britain,  Dec.  31,  1861. 
Martin,  John,  New  Britain,  Jan.  22,  1862 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8r 

1864. 
Mason,  David  A.,  Killingly,  Jan.  6,  1862;  discharged  for  promotion   in 

Corps  D'Afrique  Oct.  5,  1863. 
Molloy,  James,  Berlin,  Dec.  22,  1861. 
Morton,  Henry,  New  Britain,  Jan.  6,  1862 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,. 

1864. 
Northend,  John,  New  Britain,'Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  May 

21,  1862. 
Northrup,  Wm.  A.,  Milford,  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  July 

31,  1862. 
O'Brien,  John,  New  Britain,  Dec.  22,  1861;  killed  at  Irish  Bend,  La.,  April 

14,  1863. 

O'Keefe,  John,  New  Britain,  Dec.  30,  1861. 
Olmsted,  Edgar,  C.  East  Hartford.  Dec.  30,  1861. 
Oviatt,  John  M.,  Roxbury,  Dec.  22,  1861. 
Penfield,  Loren  D.,  New  Britain,  Jan.  8,  1862. 
Presbrey,  Edward  M.,  Hartland,  Jan.  6,  1862;    discharged  for  disability 

March  27,  1863. 
Pyatt,  Samuel  S.,  Farmington,  Jan.  6,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Quigley,  John,  New  Haven,  Jan.  8,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Eeilly,  Thomas,  New  Britain,  Dec.  30, 1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864.  • 

Reynolds,  Patrick,  Wethersfield,  Jan.  22,  1862. 
Riggs,  Frederick  J.,  Oxford,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  deserted  Jan  ,24,  1863. 
Robinson,  Robert,  New  Bfltain,  Dec.  30,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Ryan,  John  C.,  Plymouth,  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  May  24,. 

1862. 

Rowell,  Charles  R.,  Feb.  27,  1862. 
Ralph,  Curtis  B.,  March  15,    1862;  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps 

May  1,  1864. 

Simmons,  John  F.,  Hartland,  Dec.  22,  1861. 
Simmons,  Lewis  E.,  Killingly,  Jan.  7,  1862;  died  Oct.  15,  1863. 
Smith,  John,  New  Britain,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  29T 

1864. 

Stanley,  Frederick  N.,  New  Britain,  Dec.  31,  1861;  promoted  2d  Lieuten 
ant  Co.  I  Dec.  9, 1863. 

Stoddard,  Horace  W.,  New  Britain,  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  for  disability 
June  1,  1862. 

23* 


266 

Stone,  Edward,  Hamden,  Dec.  22,  1861. 

Sutlifl1,  Friend,  Plymouth,  Dec.  22,   1861 ;    re-enlisted  as  Veteran ;   died 

April  11,  1864. 

Tubbs,  J.ohn  E.,  New  Britain,  Dec.  22,  1861. 
Walker,  William  H.  Hartford,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 

Walker,  William,  Farmington,  Dec.  22,  1861. 
Warner,  Charles  E.,  New  Britain,  Feb.  10, 1862. 
Weed,  Edward  K.,  Plymouth,  Dec.  22,  1861;  died  May  27, 1863. 
Willard,  Edward,  New  Haven,  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  for  disability 

May  21,  1862. 
Wolff,  Francis  J.,  New  Britain,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re- enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 

Woodford,  Clayton,  Avon,  Jan.  7,  1862. 
Wright,  George,  Plymouth,  Dec.  30,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  Jan. 

27, 1863. 


ORIGINAL  INFANTRY  COMPANY  B. 

CAPTAIN. 

Apollos  Comstock,  New  Canaan,  Feb.  18,  1862;  promoted  Major  Nov.  5, 
1863. 

1ST   LIEUTENANT. 

William  E.  Bradley,  New  Canaan,  Feb.  18,  1862;  promoted  Captain  Sept. 
1,  1863. 

2D   LIEUTENANT. 

William  C.  Beeper,  Southbury,  Feb.  18,  1862;  resigned  Jan.  29, 1863. 

SERGEANTS. 

William  G.  Hawley,  Newtown,  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  for  disability 

June  27,  1862.  * 

Harvey  E.  Hendryx,  Oxford,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  Feb 

28,  1863. 
John  J.  Haight,  Stamford,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  June 

30,  1862. 
Eliakim  Lockwood,  Greenwich,  Feb.  10,  1862 ;  discharged  for  disability 

June  30,  1862. 
George  E.  Fancher,  Norwalk,  Jan.  22,  1862;  promoted  2d  Lieutenant  Co. 

D.  Aug.  25,  1863. 

CORPORALS. 

George  H.  Pratt,  Stamford,  Jan.  11,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran;  pro 
moted  2d  Lieutenant  May  1,  1864. 

Henry  Hitchcock,  Southbury,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability 
June  30,  1862. 


267 

Jonathan  Austin,  New  Canaan,  Feb.  18, 1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

29,  1864. 
David  E.  Holdridge,  Sherman,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Franklin  S.  Twichell,  Newtowa,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Edwin  B.  Sanford,  Litchfield,  Dec.  22, 1861;  discharged  for  disability  May 

25,  1863. 

Henry  S.  Conrad,  Woodbury,  Dec.  22,  1861;  died  Jan.  9,  1863. 
Hurlburt  C.  Hayes,  Torrington,  Jan.  11,  1862. 

MUSICIANS. 

George  W.  Taylor,  Stamford,  Dec.  31,  1861. 
Hiram  Ruscoe,  Wilton,  Feb.  18,  1862;  died  June  26,  1863. 

WAGONEK. 

Aaron  Fiunell,  Greenwich,  Feb.  10,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  July  5, 
1862. 

PRIVATES. 

Ackley,  Abram  E-,  Stamford,  Jan.  6,  1862;  died  August  9,  1863. 
Avery,  Aaron  S.,  Stamford,  Jan.  11,  1862;  discharged  Jan.  14,  1863. 
Bell,  Martin,  Stamford,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  1864. 
Benedict,  Aaron,  Nem  Canaan,  Dec.  22,  1861;  died  Nov.  28,  1862. 
Bishop,  Isaac  "W.,  New  Haven,  Feb.  1, 1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb  8 

1864. 
Blackman,  Alfred,  Norwalk,  Feb.  5,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  July 

5,  1862. 
Blackman,  Eli  B.,  Middlebury,  Feb.  1,  1862;  killed  at  Irish   Bend    La. 

April  14,  1863. 
Blackman,  Elisha  S.,  Waterbury,  Feb.  1.  1862; re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 

Briscoe,  Charles  L.,  Newtown,  Feb.  5, 1862;  dropped  from  roll  May  30, 1862. 
Brown,  John  J.,  New  Haven,^Feb.  20,  1862. 
Brown,  John  W.,  New  Canaan,  Feb.  5,  1862. 

Byington,  Francis  C.,  Bridgeport,  Dec.  22,  1861;  deserted  Jan.  25,  1863. 
Casey,  William  E.,  Bridgeport,  Feb.  5,  1862. 

Cleaveland,  Charles  F.,  Torrington,  Dec.  22,  1861;  died  April  8,  1862. 
Conger,  William  E.,  Sherman,  Dec.  22,  1861. 
Dann,  Eli,  New  Canaan,  Feb.  1,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  March  5 

1862. 
Davis,  Charles,  Southbury,  Dec,  22,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  Sept. 

18,  1862. 
Deming,  Lewins,  Avon,  Feb.  18,   1862;  discharged  for  disabilitv  May  21 

1S62. 

Dixon,  Clark,  Stamford,  Jan.  11,  1862 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  1864. 
Dunbar,  Edward  M.,  Torrington,  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  for  disability 
June  30,  1862. 


268 

Fairchild,  Reuben  A.,  Newtown,  Feb.  18,  1862;  discharged  for  disability 

July  5,  1862. 
Fancher,  Charles  I ,  Norwalk,  Jan.  22,  1862;  discharged  to  join  Telegraph 

Corps,  Aug.  17,  1863. 
Fancher,  John  F.,  Bridgeport,  Feb.  18, 1862;  discharged  for  disability  June 

27,  1862. 
Farrell,  John  W.,  Newtown,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb  8, 

1864. 

Ferris,  Wm.  L,  Stamford,  Feb.  10,  1862;  died  May  29,  1863. 
Fleharty,  William,  Hamden,  Feb.  10, 1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  29, 

1864. 

Foote,  Edward  A.,  Torrington,  Jan.  11,  1862. 
Gardner,  Franklin,  Sherman,  Dec.  22,  1861  ;  discharged  for  disability  June 

27,  1862. 

Gardner,  James,  Wilton,  Jan.  7,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  '64. 
Gilder,  Wilbur  F.,  New  Canaan,  Feb.  18,  1862;  discharged  September  17, 

1863. 
Griffin,  Timothy,  New  Haven,  Feb.  10,  1862 ;  discharged  for  disability  Sept. 

23,  1862. 
Handy,  Benjamin  A  ,  Canterbury,  Jan.  8,  1862;      "  "          July  7, 

1862. 
Hanford,  William  H.,  Wilton,  Dec.  .22,11861;  transferred  to  2d  La.  Vols. 

Aug.  28,  1862. 

Hamblin,  John  N.,  March  5,  1862 ;  deserted. 
Harting,  Charles  H.,  New  Haven, .Feb.  18.  1862;  discharged  for  disability, 

May  21,  1862. 
Hawley.  Frederick  E.,  Torrington,  Dec.  22,  1861;  "  "          Feb.  28, 

1863. 
Hegany,  Dennis,  Torrington,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Hotchkiss,  Norman,  Hamden,  Feb.  10,  1862. 
Hotchkiss,  Wooster,  Derby,  Feb.  10, 1862.     . 
Hewlett,    George  E.,    Torrington,   Dec.  22,  1861;   transferred   to  1st  La. 

Regt.  Aug.  8, 1862. 

Hungerford,  Martin  B.,  Sherman,  Dec.  22,  1861;  died  December  6,  1862. 
Harris,  Thomas  S.,  Stamford,  Feb.  27, 1862;  discharged  for  disability  June 

30,  1862. 
Hull,  Edwin  C.,  River,  N.  Y.,  March  12,   1862;  discharged  for  disability 

Tune  30,  1862. 
Jones,  Banister  H.,  Stamford,  March  5, 1862 ;  discharged  for  disability,  May 

21,1862. 
Jones,  William  H.,  New  Canaan,  Dec.  22,   1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Feb.  8,  1864. 

Kane,  John,  Newtown,  Jan.  6,  1862. 
Keeney,  Mortimer  R.,  Bristol,  Dec.  30,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran,  Feb. 

8,  1864. 


269 

Keeney,  Russel,  Bristol,  Jan.  22, 1862 ;  discharged  for  disability,  Sept.  23,  '62, 
Knapp,  James  R,,  Stamford,  Feb.  10, 1862 ;  discharged  for  disability  March 

5,  1862. 
Lapman,  Edward  A.,  New  Canaan,  Jan.  22,1862;  discharged  for  disability 

July  29,  1862. 

Lockwood.  Edward  0.,  Stamford,  Dec.  22,  1861. 
Lyons,  George  L.,  Waterbury,  Jan.  22, 1862;  discharged  for  disability  June 

27,  1862. 
Mead,  Benjamin  L.,  Ridgefield,  Feb.  5,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran,  Feb. 

8,  1864. 

Munroe,  Edwin,  N:,w  Canaan,  Dec.  22,  1861. 
Munroe,  William  H.,  New  Canaan,  Feb.  5,  1862;  discharged  for  disability, 

July  5,  1862. 

Murphey,  Edward,  Torrington,  Feb.  20,  1862  ;  died  April  7,  1862. 
Moore,  Charles  E.,  March  5, 1862;  discharged  for  disability,  May  13,  1863. 
Nichols,  Charles,  New  Canaan,  Feb.  18,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

29,  1864. 

Peck,  Chester  D.,  Newtown,  Feb.  1,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran,  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Prindle,  George,  Greenwich,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;    "  "         Feb.  8,  1864. 

Buggies,  Elbert,  Kidgefield,  Feb.  18,  1862;     "  "  "    29,1864. 

Buggies,  Sidney  B.,  Ridgefield",  Feb.  5, 1862, "  "  "     8, 1864. 

Searles,  George  H.,  Stamford,. Jan  6,  1862 ;  discharged  for  disability  June 

30,  1862. 

Searles,  Henry  C.,  Stamford,  Feb.  18, 1862;  discharged  for  disability,  July 

30,  1862-. 

Sarles,  John  E.,  Stamford,  Jan.  6,  1862. 

Seeley,  William  H.,  New  Canaan,  Jan.  6, 1862 ;  discharged  January  14, 1863, 
Selleck,  George  B.,  Stamford,  Dec.  22,  1861;  died  September  29,  1862. 
Shephard,  Harvey  G.,  Branfofd,  Jan.  22,  1862;    discharged  for  disability 
•  June  15,  1862. 
Sherman,  George,  Monroe,  Feb.  1,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  July  5,. 

1862. 
Sherman,  Beuben  A.,  Wilton,  Dec.  30,   1861;  discharged  for  disability 

Aug.  26,  1862. 
Sherwood,  Charles  E.,  Norwalk,  Feb.  5,  1862 ;  discharged  for   disability 

Feb.  28,  1863. 

Sturges,  Frederick  L.,  Ridgefield,  Feb.  5, 1862;  died  December  12,  1863. 
Sarles,  Benjamin  0.,  Stamford,  Feb.  26,   1862;  killed  at  Irish  Bend,  La.r 

April  14, 1863. 

Schreyer,  Felix,  Southbury,  March  13,  1862. 

Taylor,  John  J.,  Stamford,  Dec.  22, 1861 ;  died  February  17,  1864. 
Taylor,  Roswell,  Newtown,  -fan.  22,  1862. 

Thorne,  John  W.,  Stamford,  Feb.  20,  1862;  died  September  6, 1863. 
Thome,  Joseph,  Stamford,  Feb.  10,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  veteran  Feb.  29> 

1864. 


270 

fomlinson,  Chas.  H.,  New  Haven,  Jan.  22, 1862;  killed  at  Irish  Bend,  La,, 

April  14,  1863. 

VanScoy,  John  A.,  Ridgefield,  Feb.  20,  1862. 
Warner,  Newton  J.,  Woodbury,  Dec.  22, 1861;  transferred  to  the  Veteran 

reserve  corps,  April  30,  1864. 
Weed,  Francis  E  ,  New  Canaan,  Dec.  31,  '61;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Weed,  John  P.,  Stamford,  Dec.  31,  1861. 
Wheeler,  Alonzo,  Bethel,  Feb.  20,  1862. 
Wood,  Israel,  New  Canaan,  Feb.  28,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  July 

29,  1862. 
Wood,  Linus,  New  Canaan,     Feb.  1,    1862;    discharged  for    disability, 

July  7,  1862. 
Waterbury,  Henry,  Darien,  Feb.  27, 1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  29, 

1864. 


ORIGINAL  INFANTRY  COMPANY  C. 

CAPTAIN.    ' 

Charles  D.  Blinn,  Cornwall,  Feb.  18,  1862,  promoted  Colonel  Nov.  5,  1863. 

1ST  LIEUTENANT. 

Isaac  F.  Nettleton,  Kent,  Feb.  18,  1862;  died  September  26, 1862. 

2D  LIEUTENANT. 

Charles  E.  Tibbetts,  New  Milford,  Feb.  18, 1862;  promoted  1st  Lt.  Co.  A.; 
resign'd  on  disability,  May  11,  1864. 

SERGEANTS. 

Everett  S.  Dunbar,  Sharon,  Nov.  27,  1861;  promoted  2d  Lt.  Co.  G.  Sept. 

1, 1863. 
Charles  H.  Gaylord,  New  Milford,  Dec.  17,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Feb.  8,  1864. 
John  N.  Duncan,  Kent,  Nov.  27,  1861;    discharged  for  disability  May  13, 

1863. 
James  T.  Smith,  New  Hartford,  Jan.  7,  1862;  transferred  to  1st  La.  Reg't. 

Aug.  8,  1862,  as  Lieutenant. 
John  N.  Lyman,  Warren, Nov.  27,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Vet.;  promoted  2d 

Lt.  Jan.  29,  1864. 

CORPORALS. 

George  W.  Sperry,  Goshen,  Nov.  27,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Lewis  Hart,  Canaan,  Nov.  27, 1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  1864. 
Simon  Potter,  Kent,  Nov.  27,  1861 ;  discharged  September  7,  1862. 
Homer  M.  Welch,  Kent,  Nov.  27,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran,  Feb.  8,  1864. 


271 

Henry  E.  Merwiu,  Goshen,  Dec  17, 1861;  discharged  for  disability  May  12, 

1863. 

Albert  G.  Williams,  Canaan,  Nov.  27,  1861;  died  November  11,  1862. 
James  D.  Mosher,  New  Milford,  Dec.  17,  1861 ;  died  August  6, 1863. 
William  H.  Odell,  Kent,  Nov.  27,  1861;  discharged  February  14,  1863. 

MUSICIANS. 

George  C.  Skiff,  Sharon,  Nov.  27,  1861 ;  died  October  9,  1862. 
Benjamin  Walker,  Kent,  Feb.  10,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May  31, 

1862. 

WAGONER. 

James  H.  Evans,  New  Milford,  Nov.  27,  1861,  re-enlisted  as  Veteran,  Feb. 
8,  1864. 

PRIVATES. 

Austin,  Andrew  J.,  Kent,  Dec.  17, 1861,  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  '64. 
Barnes,  Willis,  Kent,  Jan.  22,^1862,  "  "          8,    " 

Beeman,  William,  Warren,  Dec.  30, 1861,        "  "         8,    " 

Billings,  Peter,  Canaan,  Dec.  30, 1861;  "  "         8,    " 

Brazee,  Edwin,  Sharon,  Jan.  22,  1862;  deserted  August  3,  1862.  A. 
Brown,  Hobby,  Kent,  Dec.  30,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 1864. 
Buckley,  Seymour,  Sharon,  Nov.  27, 1861;  l;  "         8,  1864. 

Burns,  Thomas,  Meriden,  Jan.  7,  1862;  killed  at  Port  Hudson,   La.,  June 

14,  1863. 
Butler,  George  W.,  Goshen,  Nov.  27,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  Mch. 

11,  1863. 

Brazee,  George,  March  11,  1862;  deserted  August  3,1862. 
Brockett,  George,  W.  March  5,  1861. 
Camp,   Edwin  T.,- New  Milford,  Nov.  27,  1861;  discharged  for  disability 

Feb.  17,  1863. 
Carpenter,  John,  Kent,    Nov.  27,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  Mav  31 

1862. 
Chaffee,  Joshua  B.,  Sharon,  Nov.  27,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  Mch  4 

1862. 

Clark,  John,  Kent,  Dec.  30,  1861 ;  died  August  6,  1862. 
Clemens,  Lewis  S.,  Salisbury,  Nov.  27,   1861 ;  discharged  for  disability 

Aug.  5,  1862. 
Cole,  Charles  E.,  Sharon,  Nov.  27,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  Feb.  25 

1862. 

Cook,  Alexander,  Cornwall,  Dec.  30, 1861. 
Dauchy,  Charles  F.,  Salisbury,  Nov.  27,1861;  discharged   December  9 

1862. 

Dean,  Moses,  Canaan,  Dec.  30, 1861 ;  discharged  for  disability,  Aug.  5,1862. 
DeMarchy,  James  M.,  Canaan,  Dec.  30,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864.' 

Dibble,  George,  Cornwall,  Dec.  22,  1861. 

Dingaa,  James  H.,  Kent,  Jan.  22, 1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,1864, 
Douglass,  Reuben  H.,  Kent,  Nov.  27,  1861;  died  September  4,  1862. 


272 

Downs,  George  C.,  Goshen,  Nov.  27,  1861;  died  September  13,  1863. 
Dunbar,  Everett  E.,  Kent,   Nov.  27,  1861;   re-enlisted   as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Erwin,  George  W.,  Canaan,  Nov.  27,  1861. 

Evetts,  Edwin,  Kent,  Dec.  30,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  29, 1864. 
Ferriss,  John,  New  Milford,  Dec.  22,  1861. 

Fuller,  Ethan  A.,  Canaan,  Dec.  30,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  '64 . 
Griffin,  Chauncey,  Sharon,  Nov.  27,  1861 ;  "  "  "  8,  '64. 

Green,  Edmund  L.,  Morris,  Feb.  20,  1862 ;  discharged   for  disability  Oct. 

28,  1862. 

Hall,  George  W.,  Sharon,  Jan.  22, 1862 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  1864. 
Hall,  Homer,  Kent,  Nov.  27,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  March  9,  1864. 
Hall,  Leonidas  B.,New  Britain,  Jan.  28,  1862;  transferred  to  1st  La.  Reg't. 

Aug.  8,  1862,  as  lieutenant. 

Hammond,  Seneca,  Kent,  Nov.  27,  1861;  re-enlibted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  '64. 
Hicks,  James,  Goshen,  Nov.  27,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  March  12, 

1862. 

Hotchkiss,  Charles,  Cornwall,  Nov.  27,  1861;  died  March  19,  1864. 
Hoxie,  Joshua  B.,  Sharon,  Feb.  5,  1862. 
Hutchins,  John  B.,  Kent,  Nov.  27,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  May  29, 

1863. 

Judd,  John  S.,  Canaan,  Dec.  17, 1861;  discharged  February  14,  1863. 
Lineburg,  Egbert,  Amenia,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  30,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran, 

Feb.  8,  1864. 

Losser,  Job  S.,  Sharon,  Nov.  27,  1861. 

Mansfield,  Norman,  Salisbury,  Dec.  17,  1861 ;  discharged  October  12, 1862. 
Marshall,  Ezra  S.,  Kent,  Nov.  27,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  Aug.  5, 

1862. 

Marshall,  Ira,  Kent,  Nov.  27,  1861. 
McGowan,  John,  Cornwall,  Nov.   27,   1861;  re-enlisted  as  veteran;  died 

April  26,  1864. 

Mitchell,  Charles,  Kent,  Dec.  30,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 1864. 
Morris,  Michael,  Goshen,  Dec,  30,  1861;  "•  "  "  8,1864. 

Murphy,  William  H.,  Kent,  Nov.  27,1861;       "  "          "     8,1864. 

Nickerson,  Edwin  L.,  Cornwall,  Feb.  27,  1862;  killed  at  Irish  Bend,  La., 

April  14,  1863. 

Odell,  John,  New  Milford,  Nov.  27,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  '64. 
Packard,  Shepard,  Sharon,  Nov.  27, 1861 ;  "  "  "  8,  '64. 

Pindar,  Frederick  W.,  Kent,  Nov.  27,  1861 ;"  "  "     8, '64. 

Potter,  Oliver,  Kent,  "     27,  1861 ;    "  "  "     8,  '64. 

Pratt,  Joseph  H.,  Kent,  "     27,  1861 ;      "  "  "     8,  '64. 

Prindle,  Benjamin  H.,  Goshen,  "    27,  1861;  discharged  October  17,  1862. 
Quain,  Francis,  Kent,  "    27,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  May 

31,  1862. 
Raymond,  Joseph  W.,  Danbury,  Feb.  10,  1862;  discharged  for  disability 

June  6.,  1862. 


273 

Reynolds,  William  H.,  Kent,  Nov.  27,  1861;  died  May  14, 1862. 
Richmond,  Charles/Cornwall,  Nov.  27,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Roach,  John,  Kent,  Nov.  27,  1861;  died  August  18,  1862. 
Roraback,  James  H.,  Cornwall,  Nov.  27, 1861;  re-enlisted  as  veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 

Roraback,  George,  "  "    27,1861;    "  "  "     8,'64. 

Rogers,  John,  Sharon,  Dec.  17, 1861 ;  discharged  for  disability,  March  10,  '62. 
Savage,  James,  Sharon,  Nov.  27,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  veteran  Feb.  8,  1864. 
Scott,  Elias  P.,  Kent,  Nov.  27,  1861;  discharged  September  7,  1862. 
Scott,  Mortimer  H.,  Kent,  Nov.  27, 1861;  re-enlisted,as" veteran  Feb.  8, 1864. 
Slover,  Chester,  Sharon,     "    27,  1861;  died  February  7,  1862. 
Smith,  Orange,  Kent,  "     27,  1861. 

Stowe,  Vivant,     "    Jan.  22,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Aug.  5, 1862. 
Stuart,  Frederick,  Kent,  Dec.  17,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  April  16, 

1864. 

Stuart,  Herman,        "     Dec.  30,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  veteran  Feb.  8,  '64. 
Taylor,  Joseph,  New  Milford,  Dec.  17, 1861;  re-enlisted  as  veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Teneyck,  William  H.,  Kent,  Dec.  30,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  May 

13, 1863. 

Thompson,  Daniel,  Kent,  Nov.  27,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  veteran  Feb.  8, 1864. 
Titus,  Sylvester,  Cornwall,  Nov.  27,  1861 ;        "  «          "    8,  1864. 

Wadhams,  Frank  E.,  Goshen,  Dec.  17,  1861 ;     "  "          "     8,  1864. 

Waldron,   Frederick   E.,  Kent,   Nov.   27,   1861;  died  June   19,  1863,   of 

wounds  received  at  Port  Hudson,  La. 
Waldron,  Lockwood,  Sharon,  Nov.  27,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  May 

31,  1862. 
Wilson,  Beach  T.,  Danbury,  Dec.  30,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  May 

31,  1862. 
Wilson,  Thomas,  Sharon,  Nov.  27, 1861;  discharged  for  disability  Feb.  25, 

1862. 
Wright,  Henry  S.,  Cornwall,  Dec.  30,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Warner,  Horace  C.,  Sharon,  Feb.  20,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May 

31,  1862. 

Wickwire,  Franklin  L.,  March  5,  1862;  died  June  26,  1862. 
OFFICER  APPOINTED  SINCE  FIRST  MUSTER. 

IST  LIEUT. 
Robert  A.  Ripley,  Norwich,  Dec.  31,  1862. 


24 


274 


ORIGINAL  INFANTRY  COMPANY  D. 

CAPTAIN. 

Cyrus  E.  Prindle,  Roxbury,  Feb.  20, 1862;  resigned  Aug.  14,  1862. 

1ST  LIEUTENANT. 

Perry  Averill,  Southbury,  Feb.  18,  1862;  promoted  Captain  Co.  C.  Dec 
9,  1863. 

2D    LIEUTENANT. 

Joseph  H.  Meredith,  New  Haven,  Feb.  18,  1862;  resigned  August  13,  1862 

SERGEANTS. 

George  A.  Mayne,  Bridgeport,  Dec.  17,  1861;  transferred  to  1st  La.  Reg't. 

August  8,  1862. 
Lester  E.  Owen,  New  Hartford,  t  Jan.  22,  1862;  discharged  for  disability 

June  30,  1862. 

Seth  H.  Addis,  Roxbury,  Jan.  7,  1862;  deserted  March  17,  1862. 
William  H.  Strong,  New  Hartford,  Jan.  7,  1862;  discharged  for  disability 

Sept.  23,  1862. 
Ezra  M.  Hull,  Newtown,  Dec.  17,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  '64. 

CORPORALS. 

John  D.  Hull,  Roxbury,  Dec.  17,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  June  30, 
1862. 

Timothy  Whittlesey,  Washington,  Dec.  17 ;  discharged  to  receive  promo 
tion  May  21,  1863. 

Eugene  Ward,  New  York,  Dec.  22,  '61 ;  discharged  to  receive  promotion 
May  21,1863. 

Elias  H.  Dewey,  New  Haven,  Dec.  31,  1861;  transferred  to  Veteran  Re 
serve  Corps  April  30,  1864. 

Henry  W.  Richards,  Southbury,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability 
Sept.  23,  1862. 

William  Finnimore,  Bridgeport,  Jan.  22,1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 
8,  1864. 

Lewis  F.  Marshall,  Bridgeport,  Dec.  30,  1861;  discharged  for  disability 
June  30,  1862. 

Charles  Chapman,  New  Haven,  Dec.  17,  1861 ;  deserted  March  17,  1862. 

MUSICIANS. 

Benjamin  G.  Loomis,  New  Hartford,  Dec.  22,  1861;  transferred  to  1st  La. 

Reg't.  Aug.  8,  1862. 
Andrew  Holford,  New  Haven,  Dec.  17,  1861;  re-enlisted  as   Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 

WAGONER. 

Joel  Congden,  Montville,  Dec.  30,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  '64. 

PRIVATES. 

Allen,  Chauncey  F.,  Woodbury,  Dec.  17,  1861;  discharged  for  disability 
July  29,  1862. 


275 

Andrews,  James,  Norwalk,  Jan  11,  1862;  deserted  July  10,  1862. 
Andrus,  Thames  B.,  Simsbury,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 

Alton,  Edward,  March  14, 1862. 

Bishop,  Henry  F.,  Feb.  18,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  29,  186 
Barbour,  Henry  M.,  New  Hartford,   Feb.  1,  1862;  re-enlisted   as  Veteran 

Feb.  8,  1864. 
Barbour,  Theron,  Barkhamsted,    Dec.  30,   1861;   discharged  for  disability 

May  24,  1862. 

Bishop,  Dean,  Washington,  Dec.  22, 1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  '64. 
Bliss,  Charles,  Springfield,  Mass.,  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  for  disability, 

July  29,  1862. 
Bottsford,  John  N.,  Bridgeport,  Jan.  7, 1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Bragg,  William  B.,New  Hartford,  Dec.  30,  1861 ;  discharged  Aug.  26, 1863. 
Briggs,  Daniel,  New  Milford,  Dec.  22, 1861;  discharged  far  disability  May 

24,  1862. 

Butler,  Charles,  Brookfield,  Jan.  22,  1862 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb  8,  '64. 
Butler,  James,  Brookfield,  Jan.  22,  1862 ;  reclaimed  as  deserter  from  4th  N. 

Y.  Art.  Feb.  21,  '62. 

Dillon,  John,  Waterbury,  Jan.  28, 1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  '64. 
Dimelow,  George,  Newtown,  Dec.  17, 1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Doane,  Edward,  New  Milford,  Jan.  22,  1862 ;  discharged  for  disability 

June  10, 1863. 
Dolbeare,  Thos.  W.,  Montville,  Jan.  22,   1862;  discharged  for  disability 

Aug.  27,  1862. 

Donnivan,  James,  New  Hartford,  Dec.  22, 1861 ;  transferred  to  Veteran  Re 
serve  Corns  April  30, 1864. 

Dorain,  Hugh,  Enfield,  Feb.  5, 1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  1864. 
Fiscuss,  Henry,  Waterbury,  Dec.  22,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Fox,  Henry  F.,  Woodbury,  Dec.  22, 1861;  died  November  27,  1863. 
French,  Ephraim  L.,  New  Hartford,  Dec.  30,  1861. 
Gardner,  Joseph  A.,  Montville,  Dec.  30,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Gilmore,  William,  New  Hartford,  Dec-  22, 1861;  died  July  6,  1863. 
Gorman,  John,  Hartford,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  died  August  2,  1862. 
Greer,  James,  New  Hartford,  Dec.  17,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  Dec. 

26,  1863. 
Hayes,  Alonzo,  Bridgeport,  Jan.  28,  1862 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Hayes,  David,  New  Hartford,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Hill,  Austin  H.,  Southbury,  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  May  2, 

1863. 


276    • 

Hopkins,  Roswell  E.,  New  Hartford,  Jan.  7,  1862;  killed  in  assault  on  Port 

Hudson,  La.,  June  14,  1863. 
Jennings,  George  F.,  Bridgeport,  Dec.  30,  1861. 
Jerome,  Henry  G.,  Montville,  Dec.  30,  1861;   dropped  from  roll,  having 

never  reported. 

Johnson,  John  B.,  Feb.  18,  1862,  re  enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  29,  1864. 
Kibbee,  Seth  M.,  New  Hartford,  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  for  disability 

Aug.  27,  1862. 

Kimberly,  Albert  A.,  Oxford,  Dec.  30,  1861;  died  Dec.  6,  1863. 
King,  William  W.,  Montville,  Dec.  30,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Knapp,  Charles  E.,  Feb.  20,  1662;  deserted  March  17,  1862. 
Lombard,  Albert,  Hadley,  Mass.,  Jan.  22,  1862;  deserted  March  17,  1862. 
Long,«Henry,  New  Haven,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Losaw,  George,»Winchester,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 
-  1864. 

Martin,  Frank,  New  Hartford,  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  May  19,  1862. 
McCabe,  Luke,  New  Hartford,  Jan.  22,  1862. 
McManus,  Edward,  New  Hartford,  Dec.  22, 1861 ;  killed  in  assault  on  Port 

Hudson,  La.,  June  14,  1863. 
Mitchell,  Joseph  F.,  Montville,  Jan.  11,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 

Munson,  Charles,  Newton,  Dec.  22,  1861;  died  Aug.  29,  1863. 
Northeridge,  Geo.  W.,  April  30, 1862;  discharged  for  disability  March  11, 

1863. 
Palmer,  Frederick  C.,  Montville,  Jan.  7,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb 

8,  1864. 
Pellam,  Wallace,  Norwalk,  Feb.  5,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May  24, 

1862. 
Policy,  Henry  E.,  Woodbury,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Prentice,  William  P.,  March  5, 1862. 
Quinn,  Matthew,  New  Hartford,  Dec.  22,  1861. 
Read,  Samuel,  Brookfield,  Jan.  22,  1862;  deserted  March  17,  1862. 
Reynolds,  James  E.,  Montville,  Dec.  30,  1861;    discharged  for  disability 

Aug.  27,  1862. 
Root,  Orville  A.,  Barkhamsted,  Dec.  30,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability 

Aug.  27,  1862. 
Root,  Watson  R.,  New  Hartford,  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  for  disability 

Sept.  23,  1862. 
Ruby,  Eli,  New  Milford,  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  March 

17,  1862. 
Ruby,  George  M.,  New  Milford,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Skiff,  Walter,  Oxford,  Feb.  1,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 1864. 


277 

Stevens,  Henry  M.,  Norwich,  Jan.  11, 1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Stoddard,  Horace  B.,  Bridgeport,  Dec.  17,  1861;   re-enlisted  as   Veteran 

Feb.  8,  1864. 
Squier,  John  J.,  Roxbury,  Dec.  30,  1861;  promoted  2d  Lieutenant  Co.  F 

Sept.  1,  1863. 
Tooker,  William  B.,  Montville,  Dec.  30, 1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Tucker,  Henry  J.,  New  Hartford,  Dec.  30,  1861;  discharged  for  disability 

Sept.  27,  1863. 
Tucker,  William  H.,  Barkhamsted,  Jan.  7,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Feb.  8,  1864. 
Tyler,  Martin  W.,  New  Hartford,  Jan.  28,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Feb.  8,  1864. 
Tyrrell,  Stephen,  Newtown,  Dec.  17,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Taylor,  Miner  J.,  March  5,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Aug.  27,  1862. 
Vizer,  Rosamond,  Bridgeport,  Jan.  28,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Welch,  Patrick,  New  Hartford,  Dec.  30,  1861 ;  died  March  7,  1862. 
Welden,  Edward  J.,  New  Hartford,  Feb.  5,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Feb.  8,  1864. 
Wilcox,  George  T.f  New  Hartford,  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  for  disability 

June  30,  1862. 
Welch,  John,  Feb.  10,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May  24,  1862. 


ORIGINAL  INFANTRY  COMPANY  E. 

CAPTAIN. 

Eugene  Tisdale,  New  Britain,  Feb.  18,  1862;  resigned  April  30,  1864. 

1ST   LIEUTENANT. 

Eugene  E.  Graves,  Thompson,  Feb.  18,  1862. 

2D    LIEUTENANT. 

William  P.  Miner,  Norwich,  Feb.  18,  1862;  promoted  1st  Lieutenant  Co. 
H  Feb.  20, 1863. 

SERGEANTS. 

Chas.  Henry  Beaton,  New  Hartford,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  promoted  2d  Lieuten 
ant  Feb.  20,  1863. 

George  B.  Doming,  West  Hartford,  Dec.  22, 1861 ;  promoted  2d  Lieutenant; 
resigned  June  26,  1863. 

Stephen  R.  Peavy,  Plainfield,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re  enlisted  as  Veteran  F«b. 
8,  1864. 

24* 


278 

Albert  M.  Cadwell,  West  Hartford,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veterau, 

Feb.  29,  1864. 
William  Blanchard,  Putnam,  Jan.  7,  1862 ;  killed  at  Brashear  City,  La. 

June  21,  1863. 

CORPORALS. 
Richard  Croley,  New  Britain,  Jan.  8,  1862 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Chas.  H.  Colegrove,  Norwich,  Dec.  22,  1861;    discharged  for  disability 

May  13,  1863. 

William  A.  Osborn,  East  Windsor,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  deserted  Nov.  25,  1863. 
Frank  J.  Underwood,  Thompson,  Dec.  31,  1861. 
George  Dennerlein,  Hartford,  Dec.  22,  1861;  deserted  March  17,  1862. 
James  J.  Davis,  Putnam,  Jan.  22, 1862;  discharged  for  disability  July  29, 

1862. 

Charles  H.  Belden,  New  Britain,  Jan.  28,  1862. 
Nicholas  Schue,  Hartford,  Feb.  27,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  29,  . 

1864. 

MUSICIANS. 

Jas.  V.  Underwood,  Thompson,  Jan  7,  1862 ;  died  April  15,  1862. 
Norman  W.  Beaton,  New  Hartford,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Feb.  8,  1864. 
Michael  Hart,  Dec.  30,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  1864. 

WAGONER. 

Calvin  B.  Beebe,  Montville,  Jan.  7,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 
1864. 

PRIVATES. 

Adams,  William  A.,  Killingly,  Dec.  31,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 

Albee,  Henry,  Thompson,  Feb.  27,  1862. 
Amidon,  James  S.,  Thompson,  Dec.  31,  1861;  dropped  from  roll  May  23, 

1862. 
Amidon,  Melvin  A.,  Thompson,  Dec.  31,  1861 ;  dropped  from  roll  May  23, 

1862. 

Avery,  Charles  C.,  Thompson,  Feb.  11,  1862. 

Bennett,  Thomas  B.,  Thompson,  Jan.  22,  1862;  deserted  March  17,  1862. 
Birge,  George  F.,  Hartford,  Dec.  30,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Blackmar,  Edm.  A.,  Thompson,  Jan.  28, 1862. 
Blackmore,  Francis,  Putnam,  Dec.  31,  1861. 
Bowen,  Francis  C.,  Thompson,  Jan.  22,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Bradley,  Benjamin,  Colebrook,  Dec.  22,  1861;  deserted   Sept,   30,  1862; 

since  died. 

Barry,  Robert  C.,  March  12,  1862. 
Bracken,  James,  jr.,  March  12,  1862;    discharged  for  disability  May  25f 

1862. 


279 

Capen,  Elbridge  S.,  New  Britain,  Dec.  22,  1861;  died  Oc.  17, 1862. 
Carey,  Michael,  Colebrook,  Feb.  1,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Carroll,  Thomas,  Hartford,  Feb.  5,  1862;  died  Sept.  30,  1863. 
Case,  Ellsworth,  Barkhamsted,  Feb.  27,  1862;  transferred  to  Veteran  Re 
serve  Corps  April  10,  1864. 
Chase,  George  W.,  Killingly,  Dec.  31,  1861. 
Church,  Lyraan,  Granby,  Feb.  20.  1862;  discharged  for  disability  July  29, 

1862. 

Cole,  James,  Hartford,  Dec.  22, 1861. 
Connant,  John,  New  Haven,  Feb.  18,  1862. 
Cruff,  Sterry,  Thompson,  Feb.  11,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May  20, 

1862. 
Daily,  James  W.,  Thompson,  Feb.  26,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

29,  1864. 

Davis,  Charles  A.,  Suffield,  Feb.  20,  1862. 
Davis,  Horatio  L.,  Thompson,  Jan.  22,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May 

20,  1862. 
Dirreen,  Daniel  F.,  Thompson,  Dec.  31,  1861;    discharged  for  disability 

May  20,  1862. 
Doig,  David,  East  Windsor,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  May 

20,  1862. 

Drinkell,  Urban,  Hartford,  Jan.  22,  1862. 
Dugal,  Leonard  L.,  Naugatuck,  Feb.  18,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

29,  1864. 
Dunn,  Edward  P.,  Putnam,  Feb.  1,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May 

23,  1862. 
Fallen,  Michael,  Hartford,  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  May  20, 

1862. 
Fuller,  Manchester,  Plainfield,  Jan.  28,  1862 ;  discharged  for  disability  May 

25,  1862. 

Gaffney,  Patrick,  New  Britain,  Jan.  28,  1862. 

Gill,  Henry,  Killingly,  Jan.  28,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  1864. 
Hall,  Edwin,  Killingly,  Jan.  22,  1862;  deserted  March  17,  1862. 
Harrington,  James  R.,  Thompson,  Feb.  26,  1862. 
Harvey,  George  M.,  Putnam,  Feb.  1,  1862 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Hawkins,  Luther  C.,  Thompson,  Feb.  26,  1862;  discharged  for  disability 

Feb.  28,  1863. 

Hayes,  Patrick,  Portland,  Feb.  18,  1862. 
Hoey,  John,  Thompson,  Feb.  11,  1862. 
Hogan,  Martin,  Wethersfield,  Dec.  22, 1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  May 

25,  1862. 

Jennings,  Tolman  A.,  Thompson,  Dec.  31,  1861. 
Joslin,  Newton,  Killingly,  Dec.  22,  1861;  dropped  from  roll  May  23,  1862. 


280 

Larnard,  Simeon,  Putnam,  Jan  22,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  August 

22,  1863. 

Lang,  Stephen,  Hartford,  Dec.  30,  1861. 
Lauderback,  Frederick,  Hartford,  Jan.  22,  1862;  discharged  for   disability 

March  6,  1862. 

McMann,  Mark,  New  Hartford  Dec.  22,  1861. 
McWilliam,  Henry,  New  Hartford,  Dec.  22,  1861. 
Messenger,  Joel,  Granby,  Feb.  20,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May  20, 

1862. 
Miller,  Charles  A.,  Hartford,  Jan.  28,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  29, 

1864. 
Miller,  Xavier,  New  Haven,  Jan.  28,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Feb. 

28,  1863. 
Mohone,  John,  New  Hartford,  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged   for   disability 

March  19,  1862. 

Mollay,  James,  Hartford,  Dec.  22,  1861;  deserted  August  18,  1862. 
Moore,  Henry,  Suffield,  Feb.  20,  1862 ;  dropped  from  roll  May  23,  1862. 
Newton,  Francis  G.,  Granby,  Feb.  20,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May 

12,  1863. 
Oedekoven,  Charles  F.,  New  Haven,  Feb.  27,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Feb.  29,  1864. 

Oedekoven,  Fritz,  New  Haven,  Dec.  30,  1861. 
Parker,  George,  New  Haven,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Peck,  Daniel  K.,  Barrington,  R.  I.,  Jan.  28, 1862;  died  April  6, 1863. 
Pfeiffer,  Frank  F.   F.,  Thompson,  Dec.  31,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Feb.  8,  1864. 

Place,  Henry,  March  12,  1862. 

Regan,  Hugh,  Putnam,  Feb.  27,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  29,  1864. 
Rice,  Levi,    Granby,  Jan.  22,  1882. 
Rice,  Santa  Anna,  Killingly,  Jan.  28,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May 

25,  1862. 
Rice,  William,  Killingly,  Jan.  28,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May  20, 

1862. 

Roberts,  William  F.,  Plainfield,  Dec.  22,  1861;  died  Dec.  28,  1863. 
Rowe,  James,  Woodstock,  Dec.  31,  1861;  re-enlisted  as   Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Ryan,  Edward,  Hartford,  Dec.  22,  1861;  deserted  March  17,  1862. 
Schuh,  Frederick,  Hartford,  Feb.  5,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  29, 

1864. 

Smith,  James,  Portland,  Dec.  22,  1861;  died  July.  1863. 
St.  Clair,  John,  March  5,  1862;  deserted  Nov.  1,  1862. 
Sloan,  Michael,  March  17,  1862. 

Thornton,  Thomas,  Hartford,  Dec.  30,  1861;  deserted  March  17,  1862. 
Trask,  John  R.,  Putnam,  Dec.  31,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  May  25, 

1862. 


281 

Trask,  William,  Thompson,  Jan.  7,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May  25, 

1862. 

Twogood,  Orrin,  Killingly,  Feb.  1,  1862. 

Tyler,  Fernandes  H.,  Plainfield,  Jan.  22,  1862;  died  Sept.  15,  1863. 
Welch,  John,  March  5,  1862. 
Welsh,  Patrick,  Southington,  Dec.  22, 1861;  discharged  for  disability  May 

25,  1862. 
West,  Thomas  J.,  Thompson,  Dec.  31,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 

Whitman,  Elijah  N.,  Thompson,  Dec.  31,  1861;  died  August  8,  1863. 
Wilde,  Thomas,  Plainfield,  Jan.  7,  1862;  deserted  March  17,  1862. 
Williams,  Chas.  E.,  New  Britain,  Jan.  28,  1862;  deserted  May  6, 1862. 
Williams,  Henry,  Colebrook,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Wilson,  William  L.,  Killingly,  Feb.  1,  1862. 
Woodruff,  Lyman,  Norwalk,  Feb.  5,  1862. 
Woodworth,  John,  Suffield,  Feb.,  1862;    re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  29, 

1864. 


ORIGINAL  INFANTRY  COMPANY  F. 

CAPTAIN. 

James  J.  McCord,  Norwich,  Feb.  18,  1862.^ 

1ST   LIEUTENANT. 

Charles  J.  Fuller,  Hartford,  Feb.  18,  1862 ;  promoted  Captain  Co.  D ;  re 
signed  August  29,  1863. 

2D   LIEUTENANT. 

John  C.  Abbot,  Norwich,  Feb.  20,  1862;  promoted  1st  Lieutenant  Co.  F. 
Sept.  1,  1863. 

SERGEANTS. 

Charles  W.  Williams,  Rocky  Hill,  Feb.  1, 1862 ;  discharged  for  disability 

August  26,  1862. 

Chester  W.  Converse,  Norwich,  Feb.  1,  1862;  discharged  April  4,  1863. 
William  L.  Webb,  Rocky  Hill,  Jan.  22,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Charles  A.  Loomis,  Norwich,  Feb.  1,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
James  Torrance,  Norwich,  Jan.  28,  1862;  killed  at  Port  Hudson,  La.,  May 

24,  1863. 

CORPORALS. 

Eugene  Nash,  Norwich,  Feb.  1,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  1864. 


282 

George  R.  Case,  Norwich,  Jan.  22,  1862;  discharged  to  receive  commission 
Sept.  10,  1862. 

Amos  R.  Ladd,  Norwich,  Jan.  28,  1862;    discharged  to  receive  commis 
sion. 

William  D.  Kempton,  Hartford,  Jan.  7,  1862;  died  August  2,  1863. 

John  T.  Reynolds,  Norwich,  Feb.  1,  1862;  re -enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 
1864. 

George  Brown,  Norwich,  Jan.  28,  1862. 

William  H.  Manley,  Hartford,  Jan.  7,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Nov. 
27,  1862. 

MUSICIANS. 

Edmund  Try  on,  Glastenbury,  Jan.  7,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Edwin  Hazlehurst,  Norwich,  Jan.  28,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May 

20,  1862. 

WAGONER. 

Elizur  B.  Elmer,  East  Hartford,  Feb.  18, 1862. 

PRIVATES. 

Bailey,  Marvin,  New  Hartford,  Jan.  7,  1862 ;  discharged  for  disability  July 

29/1862. 
Barry,  James,  Norwich,  Dec.  22,  1861;   re-enlisted   as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Bird,  Charles  Maine,  Jan.  7, 1862;  deserted  October  29,  1862. 
Black,  David,  Norwich,  Dec.  30,  1861 ;  killed  at  Georgia  Landing,  La.,  Oct. 

27,  1862. 
Blake,  George  W.,  Norwich,  Jan.  7,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  June 

30,  1862. 
Bogue,  George  F.,  Montville,  Jan.  22,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Brown,  David  H.,  Norwich,  Jan.  11,  1862;  re-enlisted   as   Veteran;  died 

May  15,  1864. 

Brown,  John  E.  Hartford,  Jan.  7,  1862. 
Carey,  Patrick,  New  Haven,   Feb.  1,  1862;  killed  at   Port  Hudson,  La. 

June  14,  1863. 

Carney,  John,  Norwich,  Jan.  11,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  1864. 
Carroll,  Patrick,  Hartford,  Jan.  8,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May  20, 

1862. 

Case,  James,  Norwich,  Dec.  30,  1861;"re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  1864. 
Coleman,  Emilous,  Hartford,  Feb.  11,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Nov. 

27,  1862. 
Collins,  Andrew,  Norwich,  Jan.  7,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May  20, 

1862. 

Comstock,  John  L.,  Montville,  Jan.  7,  1862. 

Corbet,  Michael,  Norwich,  Dec.  22,  1861;  died  of  wounds  May  25,  1863. 
Corney,  Patrick,  Norwich,  Jan.  22,  1862. 


283 

Cosgrove,  James,  Hartford,  Jan.  22,  1862;  re-enlisted  as   Veteran   Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Crocker,  Byron,  Norwich,  Feb.  5,  1862. 

Cummings,  William,  Norwich,  Jan.  11,  1862 ;  deserted  March  17,  1862. 
Douglass,  Albert  H.,  Montville,  Jan.  22,1862;  discharged  for  disability 

Sept.  4,  1862. 

Fowler,  Hosmer,  Durham,  Feb.  10,  1862;  dropped  from  roll.  May  22,  1862. 
Fowler,  Nelson,  Durham,  Jan  22,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Oct.  14, 

1862. 
Fowler,  Samuel  F.,  Norwich,  Dec.  30,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Gay,  Jonathan  P.  jr.,  Montville,  Jan.  22,  1862;  discharged  for  disability 

May  14,  1863. 

Gladding,  Ira  jr.,  Berlin;  Feb.  5,  1862;  deserted  August  20,  1862. 
Gorton,  Nathan  S.,  Hartford,  Jan.  7, 1862. 

Greene,  John,  Middletown,  Jan.  8,  1862;  died  November  30,  1862. 
Greenman,   Rufus,  Norwich,  Feb.  1,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May 

13,  1863. 
Hale,    Edwin,  Portland,  Jan.'  7,    1862;    re-enlisted    as   Veteran    Feb.   8, 

1864. 

Hickey,  Patrick,  Norwich,  Jan.  28,  1862;  deserted  March  17,  1862. 
Hall,  George,  Norwich,  Dec.  22,1861;  discharged  for  disability  May  20, 

1862. 
Hunt,  Herschel,  Glastenbury,  Jan.  22,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Nov. 

27,  1862. 
Hay  ward,  John,  West   Springfield,  Mass.,   Feb.  26,  1862 ;  died   March  28, 

1862. 

Ingham,  George  W.,  Cheshire,  Nov.  27,  1861. 
Jaques,  David  D.,  Norwich,  Jan.  28,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Johnson,  Abel,  Norwich,  Dec.  22,  1861:  re-enlisted  as   Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Johnson,  Marquis  L.,  Norwich,  Jan.  28,  1862;   discharged  for  disability 

July  29,  1862. 

Kehr,  Jacob,  Norwich,  Jan.  28,  1862 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  1864. 
Kelley,  James  A.,  Norwich,  Feb.  1,  1862. 
Kellogg,  Norman,  Rocky  Hill,  Jan.  22,  1862. 
Kerr,  Francis,  Norwich.  Jan.  22,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Nov.  23, 

1863. 

Laird,  Daniel,  Norwich,  Feb.  11,  1862. 
Leach,  Patrick,  Hartford,  Jan.  28,  1862;    re-enlisted  as    Veteran  Feb.   8, 

1864. 

Martin,  Patrick,  Norwich,  Jan.  22,  1862. 
McLachlan,  Wells,  Hartford,  Jan.  7,   1862 ;    re-enlisted  as   Veteran ;  died 

April  20,  1864. 
McKay,  Daniel,  New  Haven,  Feb.  5,  1862, 


284 

Newton,  Frank  L.,  Hartford,  Feb.  5,  1862;  hung  June  16,  1862. 

Nichol,  Robert,  Norwich,  Dec.  30.  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  29, 

1864. 
O'Niel,  James,  New  Haven,  Feb.  11,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  29, 

1864. 
Patten,  Charles,  Norwich,  Jan.  11,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Phinney,  Henry  E.,  Norwich,  Jan.  7,  1862. 
Pierson,  James,  Hartford,  Jan.  28,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  29, 

1864. 
Powers,  Thomas,  Hartford,  Jan.  7,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Price,  OrrinM.,  Norwich,  Jan.  11,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Parker,  John  R.,  Hartford,  Feb.  18,  1862 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  29, 

1864. 
Reynolds,  James,  Hartford,  Jan.  28,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Reynolds,  William,  Norwich,  Dec.  30,  1861. 
Richmond,  William  L.,  Simsbury,  Jan.  11,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Feb.  8,  1864. 
Ryan,  John,  New  Haven,  Feb.  26,  1862 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  29, 

1864. 

Sanders,  George  R.,  Montville,  Jan.  22,  1862;  discharged  to  receive  com 
mission  Sept.  24,  1863. 
Sanford,  Erbin  K.,  Rocky  Hill,  Jan.  7, 1862;  discharged  for  disability  Feb. 

22,  1863. 

Shea,  John,  Norwich,  Jan.  22,  1862;  died  July  18,  1863. 
Shipman,  John,  Glastenbury,  Jan.  22,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May 

14,  1863. 
Shipman,  William,  Glastenbury,  Jan.  11,  1862 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Smith,  Augustus  F.,Norwich,  Jan.  11.  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May 

20,  1862. 
Southrnayd,  Joseph  G.,  Middletown,  Jan.  8,  1862 ;  dropped  from  roll  May 

22,  1862. 
Strange,  William,  Norwich,  Jan.  28,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Swan,  Henry,  Norwich,  Jan.  7,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  June  5, 

1863. 
Taylor,  Azariah,  Glastenbury,  Feb.  1,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  June 

7,  1863. 

Tinkham,  Alvis  H.,  New  Haven,  Jan.  7,  1862. 
Trumbull,  George  W.,  New  Haven,  Nov.  27, 1861 ;  discharged  for  disability 

July  5,  1862. 
Tryon,  Charles  E.,  Portland,  Jan.  7,  1862;  died  June  28,  1863. 


285 

Vail,  Patrick,  Hartford,  Feb.  11,  1862. 

Webb,  Edgar  W.,  Rocky  Hill,  Feb.  1,  1862. 

Whaland,  William  D.,  Hartford,  Jan.  7,  1862;  deserted  March  17,  1862. 

Witter,  Charles  S.,  Hartford,  Jan.  28,  1862 ;  discharged  for  disability  Aug. 

26,  1862. 
Wood,  Henry  Norwich,  Jan.  7,  1862 ;  discharged  for  disability  July  29, 

1862. 
Wood,  John,  Norwich,  Jan.  7,  1862;   discharged  for  disability  June  17, 

1863. 
Yale,  Russell,  Norwich,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  1864. 


ORIGINAL  INFANTRY  COMPANY  G. 

CAPTAIN. 

Sylvester  G.  Gilbert,  Hebron,  Feb.  18,  1862;  resigned  July  16,  1862. 

1ST   LIEUTENANT. 

Denison  H.  Finley,  Marlborough,  Feb.  18,  1862;  promoted  Captain  July 
17,  1862. 

2D    LIEUTENANT. 

Joseph  S.  A.  Baker,  New  Haven,  Feb.  18,  1862;  promoted  1st  Lieutenant 
Company  C.  December  15,  18*62. 

SERGEANTS. 

Samuel  J.  Coleman,  Marlborough,  Feb.  10,  1862 ;  discharged  for  disability 

June  1,  1862. 
Charles  G.  Burnham,  Hebron,  Dec.  22,    1861;    discharged  for  disability 

June  1,  1862. 
John  A.  Bartholomew,  Branford,  Jan.  8,  1862 ;   discharged  for  disability 

Nov.  8,  1862. 
James  R.  Moore,  Middletown,  Dec.  17,  1861;  discharged  for  disability 

June  30,  1862. 
Samuel  L.  Cook,  Middletown,  Dec.  17,  1861 ;    discharged  for   disability 

July  27,  1863. 

CORPORALS. 

John  W.  Bradley,  East  Haddam,  Jan.  22,  1862 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Theodore  Palmer,  North  Branford,  Jan.  28,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Feb.  8,  1864. 
John  Lincoln,  Columbia,  Jan.  22,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Frederick  S.  Francis,  Wallingford    Dec.  22,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Feb.  8,  1864. 
Alonzo  Lombard,  Lebanon,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  July 

5,  1862. 

25 


286 

Edwin  L.  Bennett,   Marlborough,  Dec.  17,  1861;  discharged  for  disability 

June  14,  1862. 
William  M.  Maynard,  Hebron,  Dec.  17,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Timothy  Allen,  Marlborough,  Dec.  17,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 

MUSICIANS. 

Patrick  Begley,  New  Hartford,  Dec.  22,  1861. 

John  Fitzgerald,  New  Hartford,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 
29,  1864. 

WAGONER. 

Jeremy  T.  Jordan,  Lebanon,  Dec.  17,  1861. 

PRIVATES. 

Allen,  Charles,  Columbia,  Jan.  7,  1862;  discharged  Jan.  10,  1863. 

Allen,  Ralph,  Colchester,  Dec.  30,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  July  29, 

1862. 

Ames,  Benjamin  G.,  Hebron,  Dec.  17,  1861;  died  January  6,  1863. 
Austin,  Frank,  Windsor,  Dec.  22,  1861. 
Austin,  George  J.,  Haddam,  Jan.  22,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Babcock,  Leroy  H.,  Old  Lyme,  Jan.  7,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May 

31,  1862. 
Ball,  James  B.,  Marlborough,  Dec.  22,  1861;  transferred  to  15th  Eegiment 

C.  V. 
Bartman,  Cassius  M.,  Lyme,  Jan.  22,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Feb. 

22,  1862. 

Bogue,  Edmund,  East  Haddam,  Jan.  7,  1862;  died  October  9,  1863. 
Bogue,  Gedrge,  East  Haddam,  Jan.  7,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Brand,  John,  Bozrah,  Dec.  17,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  1864. 
Burnham,  David  A.,  East  Haddam,  Feb.  5,  1862;  discharged  for  disability 

June  1,  1862. 

Brooks,  Robert  F.,  Feb.  18,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  June  14,  1862. 
Bartholemew,  Willis,  Feb.  18,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May  13,  1863. 
Bottsford,  Henry  C.,  Feb.  10,  1862. 

Chapman,  Charles  II.,  Salem,  Jan.  22,   1862;  transferred  to  Veteran  Re 
serve  Corps  May  1,  1864. 
Chapman,  Lafayette,  Marlborough,  Jan.  28,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Feb.  8,  1864. 
Clark,  Charles  L.,  East  Haddam,  Jan.  7,   1862;  discharged  for  disability 

June  30,  1862. 
Clark,  John  B.,  Middletown,  Jan.  22,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  June 

30,  1862. 
Golem  an,  Jos  iah  S.,  Colchester,  Dec.  17,  1861;  discharged  for  disability 

June  30,  1862. 


287 

Cook,  Christopher,  Columbia,  Dec.  17,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Culver,  Charles,  Marlborough,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Dailey.  Timothy,  East  Haddam,  Jan.  7,  1862 ;  discharged  for  disability 

July  5,  1862. 

Daniels,  John  F.,  Hebron,  Dec.  17,  1861;  died  April  17, 1863. 
Deming,  Henry  0.,  East  Hartford,  Dec.  17,  1861. 

Dickinson,  Wolcott  A.,  Marlborough,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  discharged  for  dis 
ability  Oct.  16,  1862. 
Donnell,  George,  Hamden,  Feb.  1,  1862;  transferred  to  Veteran  Eeserve 

Corps  April  10,  1864. 

Dorsey,  John,  Bristol,  Jan.  11, 1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  1864. 
Dowd,  Emery  0.,  East  Haddam,  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  for  disability 

March  10,  1862. 
Dutton,  Harvey,  Marlborough,  Jan.  28,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May 

12,  1863. 
Daniels,  Charles,  Winchester,  Feb.  18,  1862;  promoted  2d  Lieutenant  Co. 

B;  resigned  Jan.  8,  1864. 
Eldridge,  Stephen,  Old  Lyme,  Jan.  7,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Eldridge,  John,  Old  Lyme,  Jan.  7,  1862;  deserted  March  17,  1862. 
Gay,  James,  Bozrah,  Dec.  17,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  1864. 
Gay,  Royal  L.,  East  Haddam,  Jan.  7,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  June 

30,  1862. 

Gay,  Moses,  Bozrah,  Feb.  26,  1862:  died  September  21,  1863. 

Henderson,  John,  March  5,  1862. 

Herman,  Robert,  Middletown,  Feb.  10, 1862;  discharged  for  disability  May 

31,  1862. 

Hutchins,  Charles  B.,  Bozrah,  Feb.  10,  1862;  discharged  to  receive  com 
mission  Jan.  26,  1864. 
Hackette,  Andrew,  Hartford,  Jan.  6,  1862 ;  died  April  15,  1863,  of  wounds 

received  at  Irish  Bend,  La. 
Hall,  Charles  C.,  Cheshire,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  July  5, 

1862. 
Hills,  Archibald,  Middletown,  Dec.  30,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Hopkins,  Albert,  Branford,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re- enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Horan,  Matthew,  New  Hartford.  Dec.  22,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Hudson,  Charles  B.,  Middletown,  Jan.  22,  1862;  discharged  for  disability 

Jan.  8, 1863. 
Hurlburt,  Henry  A.,  Hermon,  N.  Y.,  Dec.  17,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Feb.  8,  1864. 


288 

Huxford,  Francis,  Marlborough,  Jan.  7,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Hyde,  James  P.,  Colchester,  Dec.  30, 1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  July 

29,  1862. 
Ingraham,  Asahel,  East  Haddam,  Feb.  5,  1862 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Joab,  Jacob,  Wallingford,  Dec.  30,  1861;  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve 

Corps,  April  30,  1864. 

Karnes,  Robert,  Marlborough,  Jan.  22,  1862;  transferred  to  Veteran  Re 
serve  Corps  April  10,  1864. 

Kerney,  John,  Hartford,  Jan.  28,  1862 ;  transferred^  1st  Louisiana  Regi 
ment  August  8,  1862. 
Leonard,  James,  East  Haddam,  Jan.  22,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Latham,  Joel  E.,  Marlborough,  Feb.  10,  1862;   discharged  for  disability 

July  5,  1862. 

McKnight,  James,  Simsbury,  Feb.  18,  1862. 

Martin,  Datus  W..  March  13,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  July  5,  1862.' 
McGrath    Walter,  New  Hartford,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Feb.  8,  1864. 
McKeon,  John,  Hartford,  Dec.  30,  1861;   re-enlisted  as  Veteran;  deserted 

March  20,  1864. 
Minor,  Joseph  H.,  Hebron,  Jan.  28,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  July  5T 

1862. 
Moore,  Daniel,  New  Hartford,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Moran,  Thomas,  Middletown,  Jan.  28,  1862 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8r 

1864. 

Munsonj  Henry  B.,  Cheshire,  Dec.  22,  1861;  died  Dec.  27,  1862. 
Nelson,  Andrew,  March  13,  1862. 
O'Connell,  Timothy,  Colchester,  Jan.  22, 1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Phelps,  John  H.,  East  Haddam,  March  5,  1862 ;  discharged  for  disability 

May  31,  1862. 

Penharlow,  David  D.,  Marlborough,  Dec.  17,  1861;  discharged  for  disabil 
ity  July  29,  1862. 

Reynolds,  Andrew  J.,  East  Haddam,  Jan.  22,  1862;  died  Aug.  17,  1863. 
Reynolds,  Joseph  N.,  East  Haddam,  Dec.  17,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Feb.  8,  1864. 
Reynolds,  William  H.,  East  Haddam,  Jan.  7,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran; 

died  of  wounds  May  11,  1864. 
Robinson,  Ellis  B.,  New  Hartford,  Jan.  28,  1862 ;   re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Feb.  8,  1864. 
Robinson,   Henry,  Bridgeport,    Dec.   22,   1861:    re-enlisted    as    Veteran;. 

drowned  April  11,  1864. 


289 

Rodman,  William  C.,  East  Haddam,  Jan.  11, 1862;  discharged  for  disabil 
ity  July  5,  1862. 

Ryan,  John,  Bloomfield,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  1864. 
Root,  Dwight  C.,  March  5,  1862 ;  transferred  to  2d  Louisiana  Volunteers 

Nov.  4,  1862. 
Skinner,  Edward,  Winchester,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

29,  1864. 
Suber,  Anson  F.,  Glastenbury,  Dec.  17, 1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Sidders,  Charles,  East  Haddam,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 

Sanford,  Vinus  M.,  Bethany,  Feb.  18,  1862. 
Tinker,  Siber  W.,  New  London,  Jan.  7,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Turner,  Charles  W.,  Hebron,  Jan.  28, 1862;  discharged  for  disability  July 

5,  1862. 

Warner,  Aaron  C.,  Middletown,  Feb.  1,  1862;  died  Feburuary  28,  1862. 
Watrous,  Frederick,  Marlborough,  Jan.  22,  1862. 
Watrous,  Hezekiah,  East  Haddam,  Feb.  5,  1862;  discharged  for  disability 

July  29,  1862. 
Wheaton,  John  H.,  Lebanon,  Jan.  7,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  July 

5,  1862. 
Wilson,  David  R.,  Marlborough,  Jan:  8,  1862;   discharged  for  disability 

June  14,  1862. 
Wilson,  Diodate  G.,  Marlborough,  Jan.  8,  1862;  discharged  for  disability 

August  5,  1862. 
Wilson,  George  H.,  Marlborough,  Jan.  8,  1862;  discharged  for  disability 

June  14,  1862. 


ORIGINAL  INFANTRY  COMPANY  H. 

.    CAPTAIN. 

Homer  B.  Sprague,  New  Haven,  Feb.  18,  1862;    promoted  Lieutenant- 
Colonel  November  5,  1863. 

1ST   LIEUTENANT. 

Jonah  F.  Clarke,  New  Haven,  Feb.  18,  1862;  died  January  27,  1863. 

2D    LIEUTENANT. 

Julius  Tobias,  New  Haven,  Feb.  18,  1862;  resigned  September  5,  1862. 

SERGEANTS. 

Oscar  F.  Merrill,  New  Haven,  Nov.  27,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability 
Feb.  14,  1863. 

25* 


290 

James  M.  Gardner,  New  Haven,  Dec.  30, 1861 ;  transferred  to  1st  Louisiana 
Regiment  Aug.  18,  1862. 

Everett  C.  Andrews,  New  Haven,  Feb.  1,  1862 ;  discharged  for  disability 
Feb.  28,  1863. 

Frederick  Thesing,  New  Haven,  Nov.  27,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability 
May  23,  1862. 

Charles  H.  Grosvenor,  New  Haven,  Feb.  5, 1862 ;  transferred  to  1st  Louis 
iana  Regiment  August  18,  1862. 

CORPORALS. 

George  H.  Twichell,  New  Haven,  Jan  28,  1862. 

William  H.  Huntley,  New  Haven,  Jan.  28,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran 
Feb.  29,  1864. 

Moses  Page,  New  Haven,  Nov.  27, 1861. 

Hiram  Blackman,  Bridgeport,  Feb.  1,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  29, 
1864. 

John  Meyer,  New  Haven,  Jan.  11,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  29, 

1864. 
William  Malkin,  Nonvalk,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Edward  Johnson,  Middletown,  Nov.  27,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
William  A.  Patterson,  New  Haven,  Jan.  8,1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Feb.  8, 1864. 

MUSICIANS. 

George  W.  Evarts,  New  Haven,  Dec.  17,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Calvin  G.  Shepherd,  New  Haven,  Nov.  27,  1861;  re  enlisted  as  Veteran 

Feb.  8,  1864. 

WAGONER. 

Joseph  W.  Munson,  New  Haven,  Feb.  10, 1862. 

PRIVATES. 

Adams,  Charles  A.,  Waterbury,  Jan.  22,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Aldrich,  John  W.,  Bristol,  Jan.  8,  1862 ;   re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Ailing,  George  M.,  Hamden,  Jan.  8,  1862.- 
Andrews,  Martin  L.,  Plymouth,  Jan.  8,1862;  discharged  for  disability  May 

30,  1862. 
Andrews,  Philo,  Plymouth,  Jan.  8,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Aschback,  Paul,  New  Haven,  Nov.  27, 1861;  discharged  for  disability  May 

23,  1862. 
Aiken,  Henry  .Norwalk,  Feb.  27,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  March  17. 

1862. 
Bailey,  Heman  W.,  Durham.  Jan.  28, 1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 


291 

Bailey,  William,  Dec.  17,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  Feb.  10,  1862. 
Blakeslee,  Asahel  C.,  Bristol,  Jan.  11,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Blakeslee,  Albert  K.,  Bristol,  Jan.  8,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Blakesley,  James  W.,  Bristol,  Jan  8,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Sept. 

18,  1862. 
Booth,  Nelson  H.,  Bethel,  Feb.  1,  1862:  discharged  for  disability  July  30, 

1863. 

Bowen,  Thomas  L.,  New  Haven,  Nov.  27, 1861;  died  March  9,  1863. 
Brennari,  Thomas,  Norwalk,  Dec.  17,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  Aug. 

26,  1862. 

Brown,  John,  Feb.  10, 1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  29,  1864. 
Black,  William,  Waterbury,  Feb.  18, 1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  29, 

1864. 
Clancey,  Charles,  New  Haven,  Nov..  27,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

29,  1864. 
Clark,  Sidney  A.,  New  Haven,  Nov.  27,  1861;  discharged  for  disability 

Jan.  26,  1863. 
Cassin,  Peter,  Waterbury,  Feb.  20,  1862;  transferred  to  Veteran  Eeserve 

Corps  April  30,  1864. 
.Coleman,  John,  Derby,  March  5,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May  23, 

1862. 
Congo,  Ethal,  Sherman,  Dec.  22,   1861;  re-enlisted  as   Veteran  Feb.  8r 

1864. 
Cromwell,  David,  South  Dover,  Jan.  8,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Dorman,  Julius  H.,  Hamden,  Jan.  22,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Oct. 

10,  1862. 

Drew,  Albert,  New  H&ven,  Jan.  22,  1862,  deserted  March  17,  1862. 
Dutton,  Theodore,  New  Haven,  Jan.  8,  1862;  transferred  to  15th  Regt,  C. 

V. 

Dobson,  Michael,  New  Haven,  Feb.  18,  1862;  died  March  27,1862. 
Eisley,  John,  March  5,  1862. 
Edwards,  William,  East  Hartford,  Jan.  6,1862;  discharged  for  disability, 

July  15, 1862. 
Harrison,  Thomas,  New  Haven,  Jan.  6,  1862;  deserted  September  19, 

1863. 

Hart,  Patrick,  New  Haven,  Feb.  1, 1862. 
Hart,  Richard,  New  Britain,   Dec.  22,1861;  re-enlisted  as   Veteran,  Feb. 

29,  1864. 
Hazen,  Edmund,  Derby,  J.an.  22, 1862  ;  discharged  for  disability,  May  23, 

1862. 

Hazen,  George  B.,  Derby,  Jan.  28,  1862. 
Hidehogg,  John,  Waterbury,  Jan.  22, 1862;  transferred  to  Invalid  Corp* 

March,  15,  1864. 


292 

Hodge,  Augustus,  Norwalk,  Jan.  28, 1862;  deserted  March  17,  1862. 

Hopkins,  James,  New  Haven,  Dec.  17,  1861;   discharged  for  disability- 
Sept.  22,  1862. 
Houghkirk,  Wm.  H.,  New  Haven,  Feb.  10,  1862. 

Higany,  Michael,  Torrington,  Feb.  20,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 
29,  1864. 

Jones,  Benjamin,  Stamford,  Jan.  8,  1862;  died  April  8,  1862. 

Jahn,  Emil,  Stamford,  March  13,  1862. 

Keefe,  Jeremiah,  Stamford,  March  5,  1862. 

Kulverinsky,  Charles,  New  Haven,  Feb.  10;  re-enlisted  as   Veteran  Feb. 

29,  1864. 

Lanahann,  Michael,  Waterbury,  Jan.  22,  1862;  deserted  March  17,  1862. 
Leary,  Patrick,  Waterbury,  Jan.  22,  1862;  died  August  21,  1863. 
Lane,  Henry  L.,  Plymouth,  Feb.  20,  1862;  died  May  5,  1863. 
Latus,  Albert,  Bridgeport,  Feb.  18,  1862 ;  discharged  for  disability,   Sept. 

22,  1862. 

Lockwood,  Edward  A.,  Stamford,  Jan.  11,  1862;  discharged  for  disability 

Sept.  22,  1862. 
Mai  one,  James  A.,  Ham  den,  Jan.  8,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
McDonough,  Thomas,  New  Haven,  Dec.  17, 1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Feb.  29,  1864. 
McGrath,  Michael,  Waterbury,  January  22,  1862;  re-enlisted  as   Veteran 

Feb.  8,  1864. 
Miesbach,  William,  Bridgeport,  Jan.  22.1862;   discharged   for  disability, 

Aug.  26,  1862. 

Mitchell,  Peter,  New  Haven,  Nov.  27, 1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  '64 
Meissner,  Louis,  New  Haven,  Feb.  27,  1862  ;  promoted  1st  Lieutenant  Co. 

D.;  died  of  wounds  April  29,  1864. 

Moran,  Philip, -March  5,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May  23,  1862. 
Nettleton,  Edgar  A.,  Durham,  Feb.  10,  1862;  transferred  to  Invalid  Corps 

March  15,  1864. 

Nolan,  James,  Milford,  Jan.  22,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  29,1864. 
Nugeon,  Charles  E.,  Colebrook,  Feb.  1,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8, 1864. 
O'Neil,  Dennis,  New  Haven,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Aug.  3, 

1863. 
O'Connor,  Martin,  New  Haven,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 

Otto,  John,  New  Haven,  March  13,  1862. 
Page,  Edward  A.,  Guilford,  Jan.  11,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May 

23,  1862. 

Patterson,  Francis,  New  Haven,  Jan.  8,  1862;  »re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864- 
Prior,  Alfred  W.,  Norwalk,  Dec.  17,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  May 

30,  1862. 

Quinn,  John,  Waterbury,  Jan.  28, 1862 ;  discharged  for  disability  June  8,  '64 


293 

Eanney,  John,  Waterbury,  Jan.  22,  1862 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Riggs,  Charles  S.,  Derby,  Nov.  27, 1861. 
Russell,  Alfred,  North  Branford,  Jan.  22,  1862. 
Roswell,  Emery  J.,  Middlebury,  Feb.  18,  1862;   discharged  for  disability 

September  20,  1862. 

Scribner,  George,  Norwalk,  Jan.  28, 1862;  deserted  March  17,  1862. 
Scribner,  William  F.,  Wilton,  Feb.  1,  1862;  died  February  23,  1862. 
Shannon,  James,  Milford,  Feb.  1,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran,  Feb.  8,  '64. 
Simpson,  John,  Clinton,  Jan.  28, 1862;  re-enlisted  as  -Veteran  Feb.  8,  1864. 
Slade,  Thomas,  Feb  10, 1S62. 
Smith,  William  H.,  New  Haven,  Nov.  27,  1861. 
Strong,  David  S.,  New  Haven,  Jan.  22,  1862;  deserted  May  22,  1863. 
Telford,  George,  Madison,  Jan.  22, 1862;  discharged  May  23,  1862. 
Vanderwater,  Wm.  G.,  New  Milford,  March  5,  1862. 
Willey,  John  A.,  New  York,  Jan.  22,  1862;  deserted  March  17,  1862. 


ORIGINAL  INFANTRY  COMPANY  I. 

CAPTAIN. 

Henry  L.  Schleiter,  New  London,  Feb.  18,  1862;  resigned  January  11,  '63. 

1ST   LIEUTENANT. 

Frank  Wells,  Litchfield,  Feb.  19, 1862;  promoted  Captain,  January  29, '64. 

2D   LIEUTENANT, 

Joseph  Strickland,  New  London,  Feb.  18,  1862, •  promoted  1st  lieutenant; 
killed  at  Port  Hudson,  La.,  June  14,  1863. 

SERGEANTS. 

James  E.  Metcalf,  New  London,  Feb.  1,  1862;  discharged  for  disability 

June  28,  1862. 
Louis  Beckwith,  New  London,  Jan.  7,  1862;  promoted  2d  lieutenant  Co. 

K.,  Jan.  27, 1863. 
Wallace  W.  Smith,  Plymouth,  Jan.  11,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Charles  C.  Fisher,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11, 1862;  discharged  for  disability  May 

20,  1862. 
Samuel  S.  Taylor,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

CORPORALS. 

Abner  N.  Sterry,  New  London,  Jan.  8, 1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran;  pro 
moted  2d  lieutenant  May  1,  1864. 

Engleburt  Sauter,  New  London,  Jan.  7,  1862 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  F«b. 
29,  1864. 


294 

Charles  R.  Wright,  Salisbury,  Jan.  11,  1862;  discharged,  time  out  Dec. 

1864. 
Danforth  K.  Beebe,  New  London,  Jan.  7,  1862;  discharged,  time  out  Dec. 

1864. 

Charles  Bay,  Woodbury,  Jan.  11,  1862;  discharged,  timeout  Dec.  1864. 
Charles  Thomas,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May 

20, 1862. 

Albert  Martins,  Bridgeport,  Jan.  11,  1862;  deserted  March  17, 1862. 
James  Duff',  Litchfield,  Jan.  11,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  '64. 

MUSICIAN. 

James  McAllister,  New  Haven,  Feb.  18,  1862;  deserted  August  29, 1862. 

WAGONER. 

Albert  Bunnell,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11,  62;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 1864. 

PRIVATES. 

Adams,  Henry,  New  Haven,  Feb.  18,  1862;  deserted  March  17,  1862. 
Albretch,  William,  Vernon,  Jan.  11,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Baker,  William,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11,  1862;  died  September  2,  1862. 
Banker,  Hubert,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May 

19,  1862. 
Banker,  Philo,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  February 

8,  1864. 
Barnes,  Anson  E.,  New  Haven,  Feb.  1,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb 

29,  1864. 

Beckwith,  Ira  M.,  Waterford,  Jan.  22,  1862;  discharged  January  31,  1863 
Beebe,  Elvin,  New  London,  Jan.  7,  1862;  discharged  Dec.  1864. 
Beizer,  Frederick,  New  London,  Jan.  7, 1862;  discharged  Dec.  1864. 
Benedict,  William,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11;  discharged  for  disability  May  20r 

1862. 

Betz,  Edward,  New  London,  Jan.  7,  1862;  died  November  7,  1862. 
Birge,  Cornelius,  Litchfield,  Jan  11,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Sept. 

29,  1862. 

Bronson,  Andrew,  Litchfield,  Jan.  22,  1862 ;  deserted  March  17, 1862. 
Brower,  George  W.,  New  Haven,  Feb.  10, 1862;  discharged  for   disability 

Feb.  28   1862. 
Burgart,  Ulrich,  New  Haven,  Jan.  11, 1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Burke,  Michael,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran,  Feb. 

1864. 

Catlin,  Charles,  Lilchfield,  Jan.  11,  1862;  died  September  2, 1863. 
Chapel,  Alonzo,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11,  1862;  died  February  23,1863. 
Chappell,  Charles  E.,  New  London,  Jan.  28,  1862 ;  discharged  Dec.  1864. 
Cogswell,  Edward,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11,  1862. 

Crandall,  Anderson  L.,  New  London,  Jan.  22,  1862;  discharged  Dec.  1864. 
Curtiss,  Evits  H.,  Litchfield,  Jan.  28,  1862;  discharged  Dec.  1864. 
Daniels,  John  L.,  New  London,  Jan.  7,   1862;   discharged  for  disability 

Oct.  2,1863. 


295 

Daniels,  Robert,  New  London,  Jan.  7,  1862;  droped  from  roll  May  31, 1863, 

never  reported. 
Davidson,  Ira  A.  Litchfield,  Jan  11,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864, 
Darley,  William,  New  Britain,  Jan.- 11,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

29,  1864. 
Fisher,  Edward  E.,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11,  1862;   re-enlisted  as  Veteran,  Feb. 

8,  1864. 

Ferris,  Smith  W.,  Feb.  20,  1862;  died  March  12,  1862. 
Franz,  Joseph,  New  London,  Jan.  22,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Frink,  Seth,  Litchfield,  Jan.  22,  1862;  deserted  March  17, 1862. 
Geer,  David  H.,  New  London,  Feb.  10,  1862;  discharged,  Dec.  1864. 
Gilbert,  George  C.,  New  London,  Jan.  7, 1862;  discharged,  Dec.  1864. 
Halleck,  Loren,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  July  15, 

1862. 

Harris,  William  H.,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11,  1862. 
Harris,  James,  New  London  Jan.  28,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Feb. 

28,1863. 

Havens,  George  R.,  New  London,  Jan.  7,  1862. 
Herbert,  Patrick,  Litchfield,  Jan.  22,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Herbert,  Garrett,  Litchfield,  Jan.  22,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Hines,  Patrick,  New  London,  Jan.  7,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Hollo  way,  Ezra  M.,  New  London,  Jan.  22,  1862 ;  discharged  for  disability 

June  28,  1862. 
Immich,  Peter,  New  London,  Feb.  1,  1862;  re-enlisted  as   Veteran  Feb. 

29,  1864. 

Johnson,  Lewis,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11,  1862 ;  discharged  for  disability  May 

30,  1862. 

Kelleher,  Jeremiah,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11, 1862;  died. 

Keeney,  John  L.,  New  London,  Jan.  22,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran,  Feb. 

8,  1864. 

Kinley,  John  M.,  Litchfield-,  Jan.  11,  1862;  taken  prisoner  at  Winchester. 
Kettenbach,  Max,  March  14,  1862;  mustered  out  Dec.  1864. 
Lester,  Ambrose  E.,  New  London,  Feb.  10,  1862;  mustered  out  Dec.  1864. 
Mayo,  Henry,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May  20, 

1862. 
McGee,  Thomas,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Vetaran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Monroe,  Cornelius  M.,  New  London,  Jan.  7,  1862. 
Munger,  Trueworthy,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11,  1862;  discharged  for  disability 

May  26,  1863. 


296 

Nowbury,  Clifford  C.,  Havwinton,  Jan.  11,  1862. 

Niles,  Calvin  N.,  New  London,  Jan.  7,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Norris,  William  H.,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11, 1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 

Ostrander,  Charles,  Litchfield,  March  5,  1862;  deserted  March  17,  1862. 
Ostrander,  George,  Litchfield,  Jan  11, 1862;  deserted  March  17, 1862. 
Parker,  William  R.,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11,  1862;  deserted  March  17,  1862. 
Parmalee,  Cornelius,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11,  1862;  mustered  out  Dec.  1864. 
Peacock,  Patrick,  Litchfield,  March  5, 1862;  mustered  out  Dec.  1864. 
Phillips,  Amos  S.,  New  London,  Jan.  7,  1862;  dropped  from  roll  May  31, 

1862,  having  never  reported. 
Plaum,  Adam,  New  London,  Jan.  22,  1862;  prisoner  at  Cedar  Creek  and 

died  in  prison. 
Pond,  George  L.,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Preston,  Francis  W.,New  London,  Jan.  11,  1862;  mus'tered  out  Dec.  1864. 
Provost,  Rufus,  Litchfield,  Jan.  22,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Parsons,  William  S.,  March  10,  1862;  dropped  May  31, 1862;  having  never 

reported. 
Read,  Micah,  New  London,  Jan.  22,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Feb. 

6,  1864. 
Richmond,  Edward  S.,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11,  1862;   killed  by   explosion   at 

Opelousas  railroad,  La.,  Nov.  7,  1862. 
Roath,  Leonard  G.,  New  London,  Jan.  22,  1862;  killed  at  Irish  Bend,  La., 

April  14,  1863. 

Robinson,  James,  Goshen,  Jan.  11,  1862;  deserted  March  17, 1862. 
Rogers,  Gardner  B.,  New  London,  Feb.  10,  1862;  died  February  21, 1862. 
Rogers,  Julius  B.,  New  Haven,  Jan.  11,  1862;   discharged  for   disability 

May  30,  1862. 

Root,  George,  Litchfield,  Jan.  22,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  '64. 
Shelley,  Frederick  J.,  New  London,  Jan.  22,  1862;  mustered  out  Dec.  '64. 
Starks,  George,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May 

30, 1864. 

Steine,  Adam,  New  London,  Jan.  7,  1862;  died  May  23,  1863. 
Stillman,  George  B.,  New  London,  Feb.  10,  1862;  mustered  out  Dec.  1864. 
Tatem,  Samuel,  Jr.,  New  London,  Jan.  22,  1862;  mustered  out  Dec.  1864. 
Thomas,  Edward  0.,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

29,  1864. 

Tyrell,  Payne  S.,  New  Haven,  Feb.  1,  1862;  died  Feb.  23,  1862. 
Wadhams,  Fred'k  L.,  Goshen,  Jan.  11,  1862;  mustered  out  Dec.  1864. 
Watrous,  Samuel  N.,  New  London,  Jan.  22,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Feb.  8,  1864. 
Wakefield,  William  C.,  Litchfield,  Jan.  11,  1862;  discharged  for  disability 

Sept.  29, 1862.  * 


297 

WMteman,  Henry,  New  Haven,  Feb.  1,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Winters,  Cornelius,  New  Haven,  Jan.  28,  1862;  deserted  March  17, 1862. 


ORIGINAL  INFANTRY  COMPANY  K. 

CAPTAIN. 

Alfred  Mitchell,  Norwich,  Feb.  18,  1862;  resigned  March  11,  1864. 

1ST  LIEUTENANT. 

Jared  D.  Thompson,  New  Haven,  Feb.  18,  1862;  resigned  Feb.  20,  1863. 

2D  LIEUTENANT. 

William  F.  Norman,  New  Haven,  March  10,  1862;  promoted  1st  lieutenant 
Co.  H.,  Jan.  27, 1863. 

SERGEANTS. 

William  C.  Gardner,  Hartford,  Feb.  10,  1862;  promoted  1st  lieutenant  Co. 

B.,  Sept  1,  1863. 
John  C.  Kinney,  Darien,    Jan.  11,  "1862;  promoted  1st  lieutenant  Jan. 

29,1864. 
Charles  W.  Merwin,  New  Haven,  Nov.  27,  1861;  discharged  for  disability 

June  27,  1863. 
George  G.  Smith,  Putnam,  March  1,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  July  5, 

1862. 
John  T.  Wheeler,  New  Haven,  Feb.  18, 1862;  promoted  2d  lieutenant  Co. 

D.  ;  killed  by  explosion  on  Opelousas  railroad  Nov.  7,  1862. 

CORPORALS. 

Samuel  B.  Dunn,  New  Haven,  Dec.  30, 1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Frank  C.  Bristol,  Cheshire,  Nov.  27,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 

Charles  Morris,  New  Haven,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  died  June  30,  1863. 
Bennett  W.  Pierce,  Southbury,  Nov.  27,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb 

29,  1864. 
Charles  E.  Humphrey,  Orange,  January  11,  1862;  discharged  for  disability 

March  16,  1864. 
George  A.  Winslow,  Killingly,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb 

8,  1864. 

Jared  T.  Buel,  New  Haven,  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  July 

7,  1862. 
Hobert  E.  Mansfield,  Waterbury.  Nov.  27,  1861. 

MUSICIANS. 

Thomas  A.  Francis,  East  Haddam,  Feb.  10,  1862;  died  August,  1862. 


298 

William  Riley,  Monroe,  Dec.  22,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 1864. 

WAGONER. 

Charles  E.  Hitchcock,  New  Haven,  Nov.  27,  1861. 

PRIVATES. 

Allen,  Abner,  New  Haven,  Nov.  27,  '61;  discharged  for  disability  July  5, 1862. 
Allen,  Thomas,  New  Haven,  Dec.  17, 1861;  discharged  for  disability  March 

11,1863. 
Aldrich,  Welcome  W.,  Thompson,  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  for  disability 

July  5,  1862. 
Andrews,  John  A.,  New  Haven,   Feb.  27,  1862;  discharged  for  disability 

July  5, 1862. 
Baldwin,  Herbert  C.,  Oxford,  Nov.  27,  1861;  re-enlisted -as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

1864. 
Bassett,  Henry,  Monroe,  Nov.  27,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  March  13, 

1862. 
Beecher,  Louis,  New  Haven,  Dec.  17,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  May 

20,  1862. 
Beecher,  Miles  J.,  New  Haven,  Nqv.  27,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 
Benedict,  Chauncey,  New  Haven,  Feb.  5,  1862;  discharged  for  disability 

May  20,  1862. 
Benedict,  John,  Litchfield,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  March 

2,  1863. 

Benson,  Benjamin  E.,  Putnam,  Dec.  22,  1861. 
Benway,  Thomas,  Southbridge,  Massachusetts,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  discharged 

for  disability  July  5,  1862. 

Brainard,  Ezra,  Haddam,  Nov.  27,  '61;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  1864. 
Caldwell,  Smith  P.,  New  Milford,  Nov.  27,  1861 ;  disability  Jan.  19, 1863. 
Chase,  Daniel,  Putnam,  Dec.  22,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  October, 

1862. 

Clancy,  George,  New  Haven,  Nov.  27,  1861. 

Cojer,  William  J.,  Monroe,  Nov.  27;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, '64. 
Comstock,  John  C.,  Nov.  27,  1861;  died  February  9,  1862. 
Cramm,  John,  Shelby,  Massachusetts,  Feb.  18,  1862;  killed  at  Port  Hud 
son,  La.,  June  14,  1863. 
Cunningham,  James,  Hartford,  Dec.  17,  1861;  reclaimed  as  deserter  from 

9th  C.  V  [27, 1863. 

Dainger,  Thomas,  New  Haven,  Jan.  7. 1862;  discharged  for  disability,  June 
Dale,  Robert,  New  Haven,  Dec.  30,  1861;  deserted  March  17,  1862. 
Daley,  Charles  W.,  Monroe,  Nov.  27,  1861. 
Daley,  -fames  S.,  Monroe,  Nov.  27,  1861. 
Dalton,  Patrick,  New  Britain,  Dec.  30,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran   Feb. 

29,1864. 

Downes,  George,  Oxford,  Nov.  27,  1861;  died  October,  1862. 
Doolittle,  Frank  H.,  Nov.  27,  1861;  died  Dec.  25, 1861. 
Eaves,  Samuel,  Southbury,  Nov.  27,  1861. 


299 

Gall,  John,  Milford,  Nov.  27, 1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  1864. 
Garvey,  Thomas,  New   Haven,  Dec.  17,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability 

May  20,  1862. 

Gazette,  Marshall,  Pntnam,  Dec.  30,  1861 ;  deserted  March  17, 1862. 
Gilbert,  Charles  B.,  New  Haven,  Nov.  2.7,   1861 ;  transferred  to  Veteran 

Reserve  Corps  May  1,  1864. 

Goldsmith,  George,  Milford,  Nov.  27,  1861,  died  March  13,  1862. 
Gordon,  George,  Southbury,  Nov.  27,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  July 

5,  1862. 
Hall,  Herbert  K.,  Orange,  Jan.  11,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  July  7, 

1862. 
Hitchcock,  Frank  B.,  New  Haven,  Nov.  27,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran 

Feb.  8, 1864. 
Hollinger,  Robert,  New  Haven,  Nov.  27,  1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8, 1864. 
Hornby,  Richard,  Putnam,  Dec.  21, 1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8, 

'1864. 
Hughes,  Henry  M.,  New  Haven,  Nov.  27,  1861;  discharged  for  disability 

July  5,  1862. 
Kain,  Charles  F.,  New  Haven,  Nov.  27,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability 

July  7,  1862. 
Kies,  Horace  A.,  Killingly,  Dec.  22, 1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  July  7, 


Kennady,  George,  New  Haven,  Nov.  27,  1861;  discharged  for  disability 
July  5,  1862. 

Larned,  Edward  A.,  Putnam,  Feb.  18, 1862;  died  June  6, 1862. 

Lee,  Newell  J.,  Putnam,  Feb.  18, 1862 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  29,  '64. 

McCabe,  John,  New  Haven,  Jan.  8, 1862 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.  8,  '64. 

McDermott,  John,  New  Haven,  Dec.  30,  1861,  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 
8,  1864. 

McGreevy,  Michael,  New  Haven,  Feb.  1,  1862;  transferred  to  Veteran  Re 
serve. Corps  April  10,  1864. 

Morris,  Thomas,  New  Haven,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 
8,  1864. 

Mahoney,  Patrick,  Portland,  March  14,  1862. 

Nisbett,  Richmond,  New  Haven,  Nov.  27,  1861 ;  dismissed  by  Court-Mar 
tial  July  18,  1862. 

Nugent,  John,  New  Haven,  Jan.  11, 1862. 

O'Donnell,  Richard,  New  Haven,  Nov.  27, 1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran 
Feb.  8,  1864. 

Pardee,  Alfred  B.,  Orange,  Jan.  12, 1862;  discharged  for  disability  May  20, 
1862. 

Phile,  Benjamin,  New  Haven,  Dec.  17, 1861;  died  December,  1862. 

Pushee,  Gilman  W.,  Oxford,  Dec  30,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  May 
20, 1862. 

Ramie,  Charles,  New  Haven,  Nov.  27,  1861;  discharged  for  disability  July 
5,  1862. 


300 

Riggs,  Charles  S.,  Naugatuck,  Nov.  27, 1861;  discharged  for  disabilitv  Jan, 

29,  1863. 
Russell,  George  C.,  Haddam,  Jan.  22,  1862;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb   8. 

1864. 

Ryan,  William,  Dec.  22,  1861 ;  died  February  17, 1862. 
Scoville,  Bennett,  Oxford,  Nov.  27,1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb.   8 

1864. 
Scoville,  Charles,  Oxford,  Nov.  27,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability  May  20 

1862. 
Sellwood,  George  H.,New  Haven,  Nov.  27, 1861;  discharged  for  disability 

July  5, 1862. 
Smith,  John  1st.,  Smithtown,  Jan.  7,  1862 ;  discharged  for  disability  July 

6, 1862. 
Smith,  John  2d,   Maryborough,  Feb.  20,  1862;  discharged  for  disability 

July  5,  1862. 
Stanford,  Bernard,  New  Haven,  Dec.  30,  1861;   re-enlisted  as   Veteran 

Feb.  8,  1864. 
Stanley,  Edward,  New  Haven,  Dec.  17, 1861 ;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

29,  1864. 
Stone,  Horatio,  North  Branford,  Nov.  27,  1861 ;  discharged  for  disability 

Feb.  28,  1863. 

Storer,  John,  New  Britain,  Dec.  22,  1861. 
Tiernan,  Bartley,  New  Haven,  Nov.  27, 1861;  re-enlisted  as  Veteran  Feb. 

8,  1864. 

Tracy,  John,  Plymouth,  Dec.  22,  1861. 
Young,  Ashley,  Ashford,  Dec.  22, 1861;  discharged  for  disability,  July  7, 

1862. 


RECRUITS  FOR  THIRTEENTH  REGIMENT. 

Abrams,  Emile,  B,*  June  24,  1862;  discharged  November  16,  1863. 

Astenhoffer,  Joseph,  D,  May  22,  1862. 

Astenhoffer,  Antonio,  D,  May  22,  1862. 

Assant,  Christian,  F,  May  19,  1862 ;  killed  by  railroad    accident  Nov.  7, 

1862. 

Arnold,  John,  K,  June  24,  1862;  discharged  November  16,  1863. 
Addis,  Walter,  K,  Nov.  11,  1863;  assigned  deserter  from  24th  Reg't  C.  V. 
Anderson,  George,  H,  Naugatuck,  Feb.  27, 1864. 
Antonie,  Sam.  Joseph,  H,  May  1,  1863;  colored  cook. 
Blakesley,  Sandy,  A,  May  20,  1862;  deserted  May  10,  1864. 
Bunger,  Michael,  A,  May  24;  1862. 
Bahle,  Frederick,  A,  May  24,  1862. 

#The  letter  after  the  name,  indicates  the  Company  to  which  the  recruit 
was  assigned. 


301 

Baer,  Frederick,  A,  May  24,  1862 ;  transferred  to  1st  Regt.  La.  Vols.  Aug 
24,  1862. 

Black,  Andrew,  A,  May  30,  1862. 

Booth,  Thomas,  B,  May  28,  1862;  deserted  March  20,  1864. 

Balling,  George  M.,  B,  June  26,  1862. 

Bergline,  Theodore,  B,  June  26,  1862. 

Buhler,  Otto,  B,  June  30, 1862,  discharged  for  disability  Sept.  28, 1863. 

Brown,  James,  D,  May  22, 1862. 

Bertz,  Charles,  D,  May  24,  1862;  killed  at  Cane  River  Ferry,  La.,  April 
23,  1864. 

Bowman,  Otto,  E,  May  20,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May  20,  1864. 

Babcock,  John,  E,  May  21,  1862. 

Baer,  Abraham,  E,  May  21, 1862. 

Brown,  Jacob,  E,  July  24, 1862. 

Black,  William,  F,  May  19,  1862. 

Bayerdoufer,  Jacob,  F,  June  24,  1862;  discharged  November  16,  1863. 

Burns,  Edward,  F,  Aug.  2,  1862. 

Blake,  John,  H,  May  18,  1862. 

Brown,  Nathaniel,  H,  May  19,  1862. 

Bach,  Adam,  H,  May  21,  1862. 

Berger,  Dionis,  I,  May  21,  1862. 

Brokley,  Anton,  I,  May  21,  1862,  deserted  July,  1864. 

Bowman,  Fritz,  I,  May  21,  1862. 

Beier,  George,  I,  Sept.  1,  1862.  * 

Bennett,  John,  K,  May  19,  1862;  deserted  August  24,  1863. 

Bieber,  Peter,  K,  May  19,  1862. 

Brady,  John,  K,  May  19,  1862;  died  February  7,  1863. 

Breene,  Michael,  K,  May  19,  1862 ;  discharged. 

Busecks,  Rudolph,  K,  May  19,  1862. 

Bothe.  Charles,  A,  Jnne  23,  1862;  discharged  November  16,  1863." 

Blakeslee,  Norman,  H,  Oxford,  Dec.  8,  1863;  died  April  26,  1864. 

Brannock,  Kay,  A,  Westport,  Dec.  26,  1863. 

Beckwith,  Frank,  Colchester,  Jan.  4,  1864;  Not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30, 

1864. 

Brown,  George,  B,  Colchester,  Jan.  4,  1864;  deserted  March  16,  1864. 
Buckley,  Daniel  C.,  A,  Norwich,  Jan.  19,  1864. 
Blosopolos,  Kannoris,  Norwich,  February  1,  1864.     Not  taken  up  on  rolls 

June  30,  1864. 

Barry,  Richard,  K,  Lebanon,  Feb.  9,  1864. 
Black,  John,  B,  Lisbon,  Feb.  9,  1864. 
Brown,  William  A.,  B,  Bethel,  Feb.  20, 1864. 
Bremer,  David,  B,  Salem,  Feb.  18,  1864. 

Barber,  William,  B,  Salem,  Feb.  18, 1864;  deserted  March  20, 1864. 
Brady,  Thomas,  B,  Hampton,  Feb.  18, 1864. 
Brower,  George,  B,  Windham,  Feb.  18, 1864. 
Brown,  James,  K,  Groton,  Feb.  25, 1864;  deserted  March  20,  1864. 

26* 


302 

Black,  Thomas,  K,  Lebanon,  Feb.  25,  1864;  deserted  March  20, 1864. 
Brophy,  William,  K,  Middletown,  Feb.  25,  1864;  deserted  March  20,  1864. 
Brennan,  Edward,  A,  Middletown,  Feb.  29,  1864;  deserted  March  25,  '64. 
Brown,  William,  Madison,  March  2,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30, 

1864. 
Brown,  George,  Portland,  March  18,  1864,  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30, 

1864. 
Buel,  George,  East  Haven,  March  28, 1864,  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30, 

1864. 

Burns,  Barney,  C,  Woodstock,  April  1,  1864. 
Coyne,  Thomas,  A,  May  23,  1862;  deserted  March  25, 1864. 
Campbell,  John,  A,  July  31,  1862. 
Cook,  Charles,  B,  May  26,  1862. 
Coleman,  Dennis,  C,  May  24,  1862. 

Covers,  Philip,  C,  Sept.  12,  1862;  discharged  November  16,  1863. 
Cravey,  John,  D,  May  21,  1862;  died  December  30,  1863. 
Clousink,  Henry,  F,  May  19,  1862. 
Connelly,  John,  F,  May  19,  1862. 
Cain,  Patrick,  H,  May  19,  1862. 
Crawford,  William  B.,  G,  May  27,  1862. 
Conner,  John,  G,  Aug.  2,  1862;  deserted  October,  1862. 
Cooper,  Edward,  G,  Aug.  12,  1862. 
Corbin,  Edward,  G,  Aug.  12,  1862. 
Cressolle,  Octave,  G,  Oct.  1,  1862. 
Cashin,  James.  H,  May  18,  1862. 
Connelly,  John,  H,  May  19,  1862. 

Conzelman,  Jacob,  H,  May  19, 1862;  discharged  for  wounds,  Sept.  12,  '63. 
Cearck,  William,!,  May  18,  1862;  transferred  to  Veteran  Battalion. 
Coffee,  Jeremiah,  I,  May  21,  1862;  died  of  wounds  received  at  Irish  Bend, 

Louisiana. 

Clinton,  Thomas,  K,  May  19,  1862;  in  confinement.;  drop'd  from  rolls. 
Croul,  Charles  C.,  H,  Lebanon,  Feb.  25,  1864. 
Carroll,  Richard,  Middletown,  Feb.  25,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June 

30,  1864. 
Chandler,  Richard,  Middletown,  Feb.  29,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June 

30,  1864. 
Collins,  James,  Westbrook,  March  10,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30, 

1864. 
Connelly,  Daniel,  Cromwell,  March  14,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June 

30,  1864. 

Curbey,  Abram,  K,  Sterling,  April  12, 1864. 
Carroll,  James,  Sterling,  April  19,  1864  >  deserted  April  24,  1864. 
Dias,  Juan,  B,  June  24,  1862;  discharged  November  16,  1863. 
Duggan,  Martin,  C,  May  22,  1862. 

Deutsch,  John,  D,  June  24, 1862;  discharged  November  16,  1863. 
Douglas,  George,  E,  May  21,  1862. 


303 

Doran,  Thomas ,  F,  Ma}'  19,  1862 ;  deserted  May  20,  1863. 

Daniels,  John,  G,  June  8,  1862;  dismissed  August  18,  1862. 

Doyle,  Dennis,  H,  May  19,  1862. 

Dillon,  James,!,  May  20, 1862;  killed  in  action  Sept.  19,  1864. 

Duress,  John,  I,  May  20, 1862;  transferred  to  Veteran  Battalion. 

Dessens,  Francis,  K,  May  19,  1862. 

Didion,  Joseph,  K,  May  19,  1862 ;  deserted  June  4,  1863. 

Ducros,  Clement,  K,  May  19,  1862;  deserted  June  4, 1863. 

Dufiy,  Thomas,  K,  May  19,  1862. 

Dutton,  Joseph,  K,  Nov.  11,  1863;  assigned  deserter  from  28th  C.  V. 

Douglass,  Robert  K.,  Middletown,  Feb.  25,   1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls 

June  30,  1864. 

Donahue,  Henry,  B,  Middletown,  Feb.  27, 1864. 
Donly,  Peter  H.,  Naugatuck,  Feb.  29, 1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30, 

1864. 
Deal,  Thomas,  Middletown,  March  8,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30, 

1864. 

Downy,  Joseph,  Portland,  March  18, 1864;  deserted  April  7,  1864. 
Dowser,  Harry,  K,  Sterling,  April  9,^1864. 
Davis,  James,  Bridgeport,  April  2,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30, 

1864. 

Emmerick,  Balthazar,  B,  Bridgeport,  July  17,  1862. 
English,  Edmund,  E,  May  19,  1862 ;  deserted. 
Eckerle,  Frederick,  F,  May  19,  1862. 
Enland,  Alexander,  I,  Aug,  4,  1862;  died  July  10,  1863. 
Eisler,  Joseph,  K,  Bridgeport,  May  19,  1862. 
Ellison,  Edward,  K,  May  19,  1862. 
Enright,  James,  H,  Hartford,  Feb.  19,  1864. 
Edwards,  Samuel,  A,  Portland,  March  16,  1864. 
Enright,  James,  A,  Portland,  March  21,  1864. 

Emerson,  Charles,  Sterling,  April  19,  1864;  deserted  April  24,  1864. 
Fesk,  Albert,  B,  May  26,  1862. 
Fay,  Michael,  B,  May  28,  1862. 
Flannery,  Thomas,  B,  June  26,  1862. 
Fielder,  Thomas,  C,  May  20,  1862. 

Fitzpatrick,  Thomas,  D,  May  20, 1862;  died  October  28, 1863. 
Fitzpatrick,  Phillip,  D,  May,  20,  1862;  discharged  for  disability   Feb.  1, 

1864. 

Falkling,  Gotlieb,  D,  May  21, 1862. 
Fee,  John,  D,  May  21,  1862.    - 
Fruin,  Richard,  D,  May  26,  1862. 
Foetish,  Louis,  G,  June  1,  1862. 

Fifer,  Charles  H.,  G,  June  1,  1862,  discharged  for  disability,  July  3,  1863. 
Fogerty,  John,  H,  May  19,  1862;  killed  at  Washington,  La.,  April  27,  1863. 
Finley,  Daniel  B.,  G,  Marlborough,  Aug.  19,  1862;  died  May  23,  1863. 


304 

Fingin,  Byron,  G,  June  1,  1862. 

Freed,  John,  A,  July  26,  1862;  died  April  14,  1863. 

Foster,  George,  Groton,  Jan.  13,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30, 1864. 

Fauls,  John,  K,  Windham,  Feb.  18,  1864. 

Fillow,  Jesse  B.,  H,  Morris,  Feb.  22,  1864. 

Fisher,  Charles,  C,  Portland,  March  19,  1864. 

Frazier,  John,  A,  Branford,  March  28,  1864. 

Grouse,  Benjamin,  B,  May  28, 1862 ;  discharged  for  disability  Oct.  10, 1863. 

Gentien,  Peter,  B,  May  21,  1862. 

Gaylor,  Newton,  D,  May  21,  1862. 

Golden,  James,  D,  May  21,  1862. 

Geize,  Adam,  E,  May  21,  1862. 

Geibel,  George,  E,  May  21,1862. 

Greer,  James,  E,  May  21,  1862. 

Gates',  John,  E,  May  21,  1862,  transferred  to  Perkins  Cavalry  July  17, 1862. 

Graff,  Henry,  F,  Aug.  1,  1862;  discharged  Nov.  16,  1863- 

Garcia,  Joseph,  F,  Sept.  17,  1862;  killed  at  Cane  River  Ferry,  La.,  April 
23, 1864. 

Gunter,   Thomas  L.,  G,  June  1,  1862;  killed  at  Cane  Eiver  Ferry,  La., 
April  23,  1864. 

Graves,  John,  I,  May  18,  1862;  transferred  to  Veteran  Battalion. 
Griffin,  Thomas,  K,  May  19,  1862;  deserted  August  24,  1863. 
Grafton,  Edward  C.,  H,  North  Stonington,  Feb.  10,  1864. 

Gardner,  Daniel,  C,  Salem,  Feb.  18,  1864. 

Green,  Robert,  Lebanon,  Feb.  25,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30,  '64. 

Gorman,  William,   I,   Westbrook,  Feb.  24,  1864;  transferred  to  Veteran 

Battalion. 

Gerbrick,  Thomas,  A,  Middletown,  Feb.  26,1864;  deserted  March  25,  '64. 
Gardner,  William  H.,  C,  Winchester,  Feb.  22,  1864;  deserted  April  17, '64. 
Griffing,  James,  Naugatuck,  May  28,  1864. 
Hughs,  Benjamin,  B,  May  28,  1862. 

Head,  James  H.,  B,  Sept.  1,  1862;  deserted  March  20, 1864. 
Heidrick,  Casper,  D,  May  21,  1862. 
Hettinger,  Louis,  D,  May  21,  1862.  ' 
Heiness,  Peter,  D,  May  21, 1862. 
Hultz,  John,  D,  Sept.  21,  1862. 
Hanns,  Frederick,  E,  May  21,  1862. 
Howland,  George  W.,  E,  May  26,  1862. 
Hanson,  Peter,  F,  May  19,  1862;  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve   Corps 

April  30.  1864. 

Hawthorn,  George,  G,  June  23,  1862. 
Hamilton,  Francis  L.,  G,  July  15,  1862;  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve 

Corps  April  30,  1864. 
Hanlon,  Patrick,  H,  May  22,  1862. 
Haley,  James,  I.  May  21,  1862 ;  transferred  to  Veteran  Battalion. 


305 

Hecker,  Charles,  I,  May  20,  1862 ;  transferred  to  Veteran  Battalion. 
Hewitt,  Joseph,  I,  May  21,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Aug.  5, 1863. 
Holtzerland,  Ferdinand,  I,  May  21,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  May  13, 

1863. 

Hosley,  Peter,  I,  May  19,  1862;  deserted  July,  1864. 
Howard,  Daniel,  K,  May  19,  1862. 
Hunt,  John,  G,  June  1, 1862. 
Hart,  Francis  J.,  C,  Meriden,  Dec.  4,  1863. 
Hempstead,  Charles  Y.,  B.  Hartford,  Dec.  21,*1863. 
Hagadon,  Francis  T.,  K,  North  Stonington,  Feb.  13,  1864. 
Hex,  William,  Franklin,  Feb.  17,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30,  '64. 
Hanson,  Frederick,  A,  Middletown,  Feb.  27,  1864. 
Heime,  George,  Middletown,  Feb.  29, 1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30, 

1864. 
Huntley,  William,  Middletown,  Feb.  29,  1862;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June 

30,  1864. 

Hill,  Frank,  C,  Middletown,  March  1,  1864;  deserted  April  12,  1864. 
Herrick,  Edward,  Woodstock,  April  1,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30, 

1864. 

Ille,  Jacob,  D,  Woodstock,  June  24,  1862 ;  discharged  Nov.  16,  1863. 
Ichelberger,  John,  Portland,  March  22,  1864. 
Johnson,  Robert,  D,  May  22, 1862. 
Jordan,  John,  H,  May  19,  1862. 

Joice,  John,  I,  May  30, 186.2 ;  discharged  June  20,  1862. 
Jackson,  William,  Naugatuck,  Dec.  7,  1863;  deserted  December  15, 1863. 
Johnson,  William  R.,  C,  Groton,  Feb.  12,  1864. 
Jones,  Charles,  Windham,  Feb.  17,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30, 

1864. 
Johnson,  Edward,  Weston,  March  11,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30 

1864. 

Kallahan,  Francis,  A,  May  24,  1862. 
Kinney,  John,  A,  May  24,  1862. 

Knerzer,  Leonard,  B,  June  27,  1862;  discharged  November  16,  1863. 
Klein,  John,  B,  June  17,  1862;  drowned  June  2,  1864. 
Krieg,  William,  K,  May  18,  1862. 

Kilay,  Timothy,  C,  May  20,  1862;  deserted  October  24,  1862. 
Kelly,  James,  C,  May  20,  1862 ;  deserted  September  30,  1862. 
Kuhlman,  Jacob,  D,  May  20,  3862. 
Kamp,  Julius,  D,  May  21,  1862. 

Koeing,  Christopher,  E,  June  24,  1862;  discharged  Nov.  16,  1863. 
Kostenbader,  John  M.,  F.,  May  22,  1862. 
Kallahan,  Patrick,  F,  June  6,  1862. 

Kemple,  Joseph,  G,  June  1,  1862;  deserted  August  25,  1863. 
Kearney,  Michael,  G,  August  4,  1862. 
Kendrick,  Samuel,  G,  Sept.  16,  1862;  deserted  August  25,  1863. 


306 

Kennedy,  Patrick,  H,  May  19,  1862. 

Keating,  William,  H,  May  19,  1862. 

Kramer,  William,  K,  Aug.  25,  1862;  deserted  March  20, 1864. 

Kelly,  Michael,  C,  Lebanon,  Feb.  9,  1864. 

Kosehik,  Gottlieb,  C,  Fairfield,  Feb.  16,  1864. 

Kimball,  Alvah,  C,  Middletown,  March  3,  1864. 

Kimball,  William,  C,  Middletown,  March  8,  1864.     * 

Kelley,  John,  Madison,  March  10, 1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30,  '64. 

King,  Peter,  Middletown,  March  10,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30, 

1864. 

Kelley,  John,  Guilford,  April  28,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30,  '64. 
Lynch,  William,  C,  May  20,  1862;  deserted  Augusts,  1862. 
Leab,  John,  C,  June  24,  186*2;  deserted  September  10, 1862. 
Leitner,  Valentine,  H,  May  19, 1862. 
Lannan,  John,  H,  May  22,  1862. 

Langley,  Jacob,  K,  May  19,  1862;  deserted  March  20, 1864. 
Leleitner,  Albert,  G,  July  15,  1862. 
Lewie,  Isaac  B.,  K,  Canton,  Nov.  20,  1863. 

Lawton,  James,  Hamden,  Feb.  4,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30,  '64. 
Luddy,  James,  D,  Lebanon,  Feb.  10, 1864. 
Leibelsperger,  Samuel,  A,  Middletown,  Feb.  29,  1864. 
Lee,  Frederick,  C,  Middletown,  March  10, 1864. 
Leonard,  Thomas,  A,  Sterling,  April  8,  1864. 

Matthews,  Stephen  A.,  A,  July  31,  1862;  died  of  wounds  April  29,  1864. 
Mohren,  John,  B,  May  28,  1862. 
McGarigal,  Terry,  B,  June  26,  1862. 

Muilheizer,  Andreas,  B,  June  24, 1862 ;  discharged  November  16,  1863, 
McGuire,  James,  C,  May  21, 1862;  died  September  6,  1863. 
Maddux,  John,  C,  May  24,  1862;  promoted  2d  Lieut.  May  1,  1864. 
Miller,  William,  E,  May  26,  1862;  died  January  22,1863. 
Murphy,  Michael,  E,  July  1,  1862. 
Midsch,  Conrad,  F,  May  19, 1862 ;  transferred  to  Invalid  Corps  March  15, 

1864. 

McCormick,  Thos.  R.,  F,  May  19,  1862. 
Miller,  Jacob,  F,  Sept.  15,  1862. 
Mint,  William,  F,  Aug.  3,  1862. 
Mark,  Frank,  G,  July  15, 1862. 
Mason,  John  V.,  G,  Sept.  16,  1862. 

McDonald,  Edward,  I,  May  19,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Oct.  19,  '63. 
McCann,  William,  K,  May  18,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Dec.  30,  '62. 
Murphy,  Patrick,  D,  Hampton,  Feb.  18, 1864. 
McSweeney,  Edward,  D,  Killingworth,  Feb.  24,  1864;  deserted  June  12, 

1864. 

McBride,  William,  B,  Middletown,  Feb.  27, 1864;  deserted  March  20, 1864. 
McLellan,  John,  B,  Naugatuck,  Feb.  27, 1864. 


307 

Marion,  Francis,  A,  March  15,  1863;  colored  cook. 

Morgan,  Richard,  C,  Portland,  March  18,  1864;  deserted  June  23, 1864. 

Marsh,  Howard,  G,  Ellington,  March  9,  1864. 

May,  Frank,  I,  Litchfield,  June  15, 1864;  colored  cook,  transferred  to  Vet 
eran  Battalion. 

Nelson,  Henry,  A,  May  23,  1862. 

Newhouse,  Moses,  G,  Aug.  12,  1862. 

Nerherin,  Joseph,  I,  Aug.  5,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Feb.  7,  1863. 

Nops,  Benedict,  I;  died  February  23,  1863. 

Nelson,  Philip,  K,  Middletown,  Feb.  25,  1864. 

Opl,  Francis  A.,  B;  June  24,  1862;  discharged  November  16,  1863. 

O'Brien,  Cornelius,  D,  Danbury,  Feb.  20,  1864. 

Peterson,  Solon,  B,  May  26,  1862. 

Pinsard,  Victor,  B,  Aug.  2,  1862;  deserted  September  1,  1863. 

Poush,  Frederick,  D,  May  21,  1862. 

Pope,  Andrew  I.,  E,  May  21,  1862;  transferred  to  Perkins  Cavalry,  July 
17,  1862. 

Pfeiffer,  George,  F,  May  20,  1862. 

Perrett,  Andrew,  F,  May  20,  1862. 

Perault,  Joseph  A,  F,  Sept.  9,  1862. 

Pendergrast,  John,  G,  Sept.  8,  1862. 

Pflaummer,  Edward,  K,  May  18,  1862;  deserted  November  10,  1863. 

Payne,  Clarence  D,  K,  Stonington,  Jan.  9,  1864;  deserted  April  22, 1864. 

Parker,  Henry,  E,  Bethany,  March  22, 1864. 

Pierce,  Charles,  K,  Sterling,  April  12,  1864. 

Quinn,  Hugh,  G,  July  15,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  Feb.  28,  1863. 

Rausch,  Nicholas,  A,  July  31,  1862. 

Robertson,  Morant,  J.,  B;  Sept.  6,  1862. 

Roderiggs,  Bernard,  D,  May  21,  1862. 

Roby,  George  N.,  E,  May  20, 1862;  deserted  February  17,  1863. 

Reihle,  John,  E,  May  20, 1862. 

Rutledge,  Calvin  W.,  E,  May  21,  1862. 

Reagan,  Andrew,  E,  July  24, 1862. 

Rowen,  Charles,  G,  June  1, 1862. 

Reamey,  Charles,  G,  June  1,  1862;  deserted  January  1,  1864. 

Remy,  Philip  A.,  I,  June  30,  1862;  transferred  to  Veteran  Battalion. 

Rehm,  Michael,  I,  June  24,  1862;  discharged  Nov.  16,  1863. 

Reltrath,  Henry,  I,  May  20,  1862;  taken  prisoner  August,  1864. 

Rivers,  Charles,  K,  May  19,  1862;  deserted  August  20, 1862. 

Ryan,  William,  A,  Middletown,  March  5,  1864;  deserted  March  20,  1864. 

Ryan.  Philip,  Westbrook,  March  10,  1864; 'not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30, 
1864. 

Read,  William,  Westbrook,  March  10,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June 
30,  1864. 

Remington,  James,  C,  Middletown,  March  10,  1864. 


308 

Bice,  James,  Middletown,  March  10,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30, 

1864. 

Smith,  Patrick,  A,  May  30,  1862;  deserted  January  17, 1864. 
Schmitt,  Louis,  B,  June  26,  1862. 
Schweikert,  Philip,  B,  June  26,  1862. 
Shaffer,  John,  B,  July  23, 1862. 
Smith,  James,  B,  Sept.  1,  1862. 
Shandua,  John,  D,  May  21,  1862. 

Schliemann,  Andrew,  D,  June  24,  1862;  discharged  November  16,  1863. 
Schnell,  John,  E,  May  20,  1862;  deserted  December  1, 1863. 
Sheer,  Martin,  G,  June  1,  1862. 
Suarman,  John,  G,  June  1,  1862. 
Smith,  Patrick,  G,  Aug.  5,  1862. 

Sharden,  Martin,  J.,  G,  Aug.  20,  1862;  died  July  24, 1863. 
Schlosser,  Antoine,  G,  July  21,  1862. 
Smith,  Henry,  H,  May  19,  1862. 
Sanders,  Bernhart,  H,  May  19,  1862. 
Smith,  Daniel,  H,  May  19,  1862. 

Secelle,  Theodore,  F,  May  19,  1862;  drowned  August  23,  1863. 
Schultz,  Frederick,  H,  May  20,  1862. 
Senvas,  Bernhart,  I,  May  21,  1862;  deserted  July,  1864. 
Smith,  Edward,  I,  May  18,  1862;  transferred  to  Veteran  Battalion. 
Smith,  John,  I,  May  21,  1862;  deserted  October  1,  1862. 
Sprower,  Hyronimus,  I,  May  20,  1862 ;  discharged  to  receive  commission. 
Sanders,  Hermann,  K,  May  19,  1862. 

Shambley,  William  C.,  K,  May  19,  1862;  deserted  March  23,  1864. 
Soukerp,  Wensel,  K,  May  19, 1862. 
Steifen,  John,  K,  May  18,  1862. 
Smith,  William,  K,  Ledyard,  Jan.  9, 1864. 

Stannard,  Asa  B.,  C,  Nov.  11,  1863;  assigned  deserter  from  24th  C.  V. 
Stocking,  Samuel,  C,  Nov.  11,  1863;  assigned  deserter  from  25th  C.  V. 
Smith,  Frank,  K,  Montville,  Feb.  6,  1864;  deserted  March  20,  1864. 
Still,  George  W.,  Franklin,  Feb.  17,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30, 

1864. 

Steward,  Thomas,  A,  Salem,  Feb.  26,  1864;  deserted  March  25,  1864. 
Stafford,  Thomas,  Naugatuck,  Feb.  29,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June 

30,  1864. 

Sullivan,  Henry,  B,  Middletown,  Feb.  29,  1864;  deserted  March  20,  1864. 
Stealer,  Charles,  Middletown,  March  10,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June 

30,  1864. 

Silvey,  John,  Bethany,  March  22,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30,  '64. 
Smith,  James,  Woodstock,  April  1,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30, 

1864. 

Thompson,  James,  K,  Groton,  Jan.  13,  1864;  deserted  March  20,  1864. 
Thompson,  George,  I,  Middletown,  Feb.  24,  1864;  deserted  December,  '64. 


309 

Thompson, George  J.  Middletown,  Feb.  29, 1864 ;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June 
30,  1864. 

Trodon,  Adam,  Middletown,  March  10,  1864;  deserted  May  25,  1864. 

Thomson,  John,  Portland,  March  17,  1864;  deserted  June  9,  1864. 

Ulrich,  Peter,  D,  June  24,  1862;  discharged  November  16, 1863. 

Urbaine,  Charles,  E,  May  21.  1862. 

Ufford,  Daniel,  K,  Nov.  11,  1S63;  assigned  deserter  from  23d  C.  V. 

Underbill,  William,  K,  East  Lyme,  Feb.  2,  1864. 

Verdella,  Leopold,  C,  Oct.  23,  1862;  deserted  September  15,  1863. 

Vogel,  Joseph,  E,  May  20,  1862. 

Vogel,  August,  F,  May  19,  1862. 

Vogt,  John,  I,  May  26, 1862;  discharged  for  disability  March  11,  1863. 

VonderDann,  Henry,  K,  Hamden,  Feb.  3,  1864. 

Vrooman,  Byron,  Woodstock,  April  1,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30, 
18t>4. 

Wright,  William,  A,  Aug.  24,  1862 

Williams,  George,  C,  May  22,  1862;  deserted  September  30,  1862. 

Williams,  John,  C,  May  30,  1862. 

Walters,  Louis,  D,  May  21,  1862. 

Welch,  Thomas,  D,  May  21,  1862;  discharged  for  disability  March  27,  '63. 

Wilson,  August,  E,  May  20,  1862. 

White,  Edward,  E,  May  21,  1862. 

Warner,  John,  E,  May  23,  1862. 

Wagner,  Albert  L  ,  E,  May  21,  1862. 

Walter,  John,  H,  May  19,  1862. 

Welch,  Henry,  H,  May  19, 1862;  died  November  25,  1863. 

Westenburger,  John,  H,  May  18,  1862. 

Wolff,  Louis,  H,  May  19, 1862. 

Wagner,  Charles,  I,  May  21,  1862;  deserted  July,  1864. 

Wagner,  Charles  F.,  I,  Aug.  4,  1862  ^transferred  to  Veteran  Battalion. 

Wirt,  Michael,  A,  Aug.  26,  1862. 

Westhus,  Bernhardt,  K,  May  21,  1862;  died  October  3,  1863. 

Wilson,  Charles  F.,  K,  Marlborough,  Dec.  26,  1863. 

Weed,  William  A.,  Ridgefield,  Jan.  5,  '64;  not  taken  up  on  rolls,  June  30,  '64. 

Wheelock,  John  E  ,  Stonington,  Jan.  9,  1864;  discharged  to  receive  com 
mission,  Feb.  24,  1864. 

Wood,  John,  Colchester.  Jan.  4,  1864;  deserted  March  25,  1864. 

Wanzel,  James  M.  C,  Nov.  11,  1863;  assigned  deserter  from  23d  C.  V. 

Williams,  John,  New  Haven,  Feb.  11,  1864;  deserted. 

Watson,  John,  A,  Middletown,  Feb.  24,  1864;  deserted  March  25,  1864. 

White,  Thomas,  Naugatuck,  Feb.  25,  1S64;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30, 
1864. 

Williamson,  James,  D,  Middletown,  Feb.  27,  1804;  died  May  14,  1864. 

Wood,  George,  Winchester,  Feb.  22,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30, 
1864. 

27 


310 


Wright,  Isaac,  A,  Portland,  March  16,  1864. 

Willson,  John,  Portland,  March  16,  1864;   not   taken  up   on  rolls  June  30 

1864. 

Wray,  William,  A.,  Wolcott,  March  22,  1864. 
Willand,  Nathaniel  H.,  K,  East  Haven,  March  24,  1864. 
Whaland,  Thomas,  Chester,  April  5,  1864;  not  taken  up  on  rolls  June  30 

1864. 

Wheeler,  Henry,  Sterling,  April  19,  1864;  deserted  April  24,  1864. 
Wells,  Ephraim,  B,  New  Haven,  June  28,  1864;  colored  cook. 
Young,  Marcus,  G,  July  15,  1862;  deserted  October  30,  1862. 
Zahn,  Bernhart,  H,  May  19,  1862. 
Zamphiropolos,  Michael,  K,  Norwich,  Feb.  1,  1864. 


RECRUITS  FOR  THIRTEENTH  REGT.  CONNECTICUT  VOLS. 

FROM    JULY    1ST    TO    DEC.    29TH    1864. 


John  Buckley, 
Charles  A.  Bowen, 
Edmund  C.  Bingham, 
Michael  C.  Burke, 
Rowland  C.  Brown, 
Elam  Barber, 
Daniel  G.  Carpenter, 
Thomas  0.  Callaghan, 
Edward  Casey, 
Emil  Chawoin, 
Eugene  Davidson, 
Ernst  Dallye, 
James  Donelly, 
Peter  Dechamp, 
George  Elmer, 
John  Fisher, 
Bernard  Pagan, 
George  Francis, 
Henry  P.  Gangloff, 
Thomas  S.  Gaynor, 
Joseph  Goodblood, 
Joseph  Hackney, 
Henry  Harper, 
William  B.  Hayes, 
Michael  HefFerman, 
Thomas  Holmes, 
Thomas  Hart, 


Peter  McGregor, 
John  McNeil, 
William  Montgomery, 
James  McLaughlin, 
James  L  Mason, 
Thomas  Mead, 
Joseph  Monahan, 
John  H.  Norman, 
Horace  Newton, 
Andrew  Pawlik, 
Michael  Penrgrast, 
Charles  Rhodes, 
John  Ryan, 
Alexander  Robert, 
August  Bossel, 
James  Sirley, 
John  Smith, 
Frank  T.  Spencer, 
James  Snyder, 
William  Slino, 
Patrick  Sullivan, 
Thomas  Stritch, 
William  Schmidt, 
August  Simon, 
Thomas  Smith, 
Louis  Tanfer, 
James  W.  Turner, 


311 


Andrew  Hutton,  Alexander  Theobald, 

Daniel  Hoctor,  William  H.  Wood  worth, 

Peter  Kelly,  James  H.  Woodworth, 

William  Kinsilla,  Andrew  Walter, 
John  Kellcher. 

Merritt  Lyman,  Joseph  D.  Whitney, 

John  Laffey,  George  Weaver, 

Arthur  Lauriay,  John  Wilson, 

Louis  Louis,  Thomas  Wiseman, 

Francis  Meney,  James  A.  Willis, 

John  Mooney,  John  Sullivan. 


LIST  OF  KILLED  AND  WOUNDED  AT  GEORGIA  LANDING, 

OCTOBER  27,  1862. 

John  Vogt,  Co.  I,  private,  badly  wounded. 
Diones  Berger,  I,  private,  slightly. 
J.  Coffee,  I,  private,  slightly. 
E.  McDonald,  I,  private,  slightly. 
J.  Duff,  I,  private,  slightly. 
John  Farrell,  B,  private,  flesh  wound. 
Byron  Crocker,  F,  private,  slightly. 
Charles  Patten,  F,  slightly. 
Jacob  Miller,  F,  private,  slightly. 
David  Black,  F,  private,  killed. 
Ellis  B.  Robinson,  G,  private,  slightly. 
Walter  Skiff,  D,  private,  slightly. 
William  Prentiss,  D,  private,  in  the  neck. 
Co.  K.,  none. 
Co.  H.,  none. 
Edward  Blackmore,  E,  corporal,  slightly  in  leg. 


BATTLE  OF  IRISH  BEND. 

LIST   OF   CASUALTIES  IN  THIRTEENTH  CONNECTICUT  VOLUNTEERS  ON  THE 
14TH   OF   APRIL,    1863. 

Officers. 

Captain  H.  B.  Sprague,  Co.  H.,  wounded  slightly  in  the  hand  and  arm. 
Captain  Charles  J.  Fuller,  Co.  D.,   wounded   slightly  in  leg  by   spent 
ball. 

Lieut.  Joseph  Strickland,  wounded  slightly  in  arm. 
Lieut.  John  C.  Kinney,  wounded  slightly  in  leg. 


312 

Enlisted  Men. 

First  Sergeant  Frank  E.  Stanley,  A,  killed. 

Private  John  O'Brien,  A,  killed. 

Sergeant  Frank  W.  Stanley,  A,  wounded  in  leg  by  minnie  ball  near  the 
knee  joint,  afterward  died  of  the  wound. 

Private  Thomas  Hurley,  A,  wounded  in  the  arm. 

Private  Thomas  Coyne,  A,  wounded  in  the  thigh. 

Private  John  Smith,  A,  wounded  in  the  forehead. 

Private  John  Freed,  A,  wounded  in  lung,  afterward  died. 

Private  Charles  Tomlinson,  B,  killed. 

Private  Eli  B.  Blackman,  B,  killed. 

Private  Benjamin  0.  Sarles,  B,  killed. 

Private  Benjamin  Grouse,  B,  wounded  in  leg  by  piece  of  shell,  thigh 
amputated. 

Corporal  Edwin  Nickerson,  C.  killed. 

Private  Ira  Marshal,  C,  wounded  seriously  in  shoulder. 

Private  George  Ewin,  C,  wounded 'through  the  lung. 

Private  Leopold  Verdella,  C,  wounded  in  the  leg  slightly 

Corporal  George  Sperry,  C,  wounded  in  the  hip. 

Corporal  Walter  Skiff,  D,  wounded  in  leg  slightly. 

Private  H.  J.  Tucker,  D,  wounded  in  the  hip. 

Private  John  Shandaa,  D,  wounded  in  the  mouth,  fracturing  lower  jaw 
badly. 

Private  Hugh  Doran,  D,  wounded  in  leg. 

Private  John  B.  Johnson,  D,  wounded  in  shoulder. 

Private  James  Greer,  E,  wounded  in  leg. 

Corporal  George  Brown,  F,  wounded  in  leg. 

Corporal  George  W.  Ingham,  F,  wounded  in  abdomen  severely. 

Private  Conrad  Midsch,  Co.  F,  wounded  in  leg  severely. 

Private  William  Black,  F,  wounded  in  foot  slightly. 

Private  Orrin  M.  Price,  F,  wounded  in  foot. 

Private  John  Karney,  F,  wounded  in  hip. 

Private  Andrew  Hackett,  G,  wounded  in  scrotum,  afterward  died. 

Private  John  Suarman,  G,  wounded  in  arm. 

Private  Maurice  Newhouse,  G,  wounded  in  cheek. 

Corporal  Jacob  Joale,  G,  wounded  in  hand. 

Private  Anthony  Schlosser,  G,  woundecfin  hand. 

1st  Sergeant  Alfred  Russell,  H,  wounded  in  the  neck  severely. 

Sergeant  Nathaniel  Brown,  II,  wounded  slightly. 

Corporal  Nelson  Booth,  H,  wounded  in  leg  severely. 

Private  David  Cromwell,  H,  wounded  in  arm. 

Private  Michael  Higaney,  H,  wounded  in  shoulder. 

Private  J.  Couzelman,  H,  wounded  in  leg  severely. 

Private  V.  Leitner,  H,  wounded  in  shoulder. 

Private  Michael  McGrath,  H,  wounded  in  head. 


313 

Private  Thomas  Slade,  H,  wounded  in  leg. 

Private  W.  G.  Vanderwater,  H,  wounded  in  hand. 

Private  L.  Wolf,  H,  wounded  in  head,  slightly. 

Corporal  Leonard  G.  Roth,  I,  killed. 

Private  Jeremiah  Coffee,  I,  wounded  in  side,  afterward  died  of  wound. 

Private  Charles  Hecker,  I,  wounded  in  leg. 

Private  William  Serk,  I,  wounded  in  hand. 

Private  John  McDermot,  K,  wounded  in  leg. 

Private  Venzel  Soukup,  K,  wounded  in  arm  severely. 

Number  of  officers  wounded,  4. 

Number  of  enlisted  men  wounded,  43. 

Number  of  enlisted  men  killed,  7. 


The  following  is  a  list  of  officers  engaged  in  action  at  Irish  Bend,  La., 
April  14,  1863. 

FIELD   AND    STAFF   OFFICERS. 

George  W.  Whittlesey,  Adjutant. 
George  Clary,  Assistant  Surgeon. 
Henry  Upson,  Chaplain. 

COMMANDING   OFFICERS   OF    COMPANIES. 

Charles  D.  Blinn,  Captain  Company  C. 

Eugene  Tisdale,  "  "         E. 

James  J.  McCord,  "  "          F. 

Homer  B.  Sprague,  "         .    "          H. 

William  M.  Grosvenor,        "  "          I. 

William  E.  Bradley,  1st  Lieutenant  Company  B. 

Perry  Averill,  "  4i          D. 

Charles  E.  Tibbetts,  "  "         A. 

Joseph  S.  A.  Baker,  "  "          G. 

William  F.  Norman,  "  "          K.     . 

OTHER   LINE   OFFICERS. 

Frank  Wells,  1st  Lieutenant  Company  I. 

Joseph  Strickland,  "                           "        F. 

Robert  A.  Ripley,  "           .     ^          "        C. 

John  C.  Kinney,  2d  Lieutenant  Company  A. 

Louis  Reckwith,  "                           ''        B. 

Newton  W.  Perkins,  "                           "        C. 

Charles  H.  Beaton,  "                           "        E. 

•    George  B.  Derning,  "                           "        H. 

Louis  Meaner,  "                          "        I. 

Charles  Daniels,  "                          "        K. 

27* 


314 


ASSAULT  ON  PORT  HUDSON,  JUNE  14,  1863. 

HEAD-QUARTERS,  13TH  CONN.  VOLS. 
BEFORE  PORT  HUDSON,  June  14th,  1863. 
GENERAL: 

**I  have  the  honor  to  report  the  action  taken  by  the  13th  Connecticut 
Volunteers,  in  the  engagement  of  the  14th  inst.,  before  Port  Hudson,  as 
follows  : 

As  per  order,  we  moved  from  our  position  in  rear  of  Duryea's  Battery, 
at  half-past  two  A.  M.,  to  the  Jackson  Road,  and  rested  near  the  bridge  on 
the  right  of  said  road,  (going  toward  Port  Hudson,)  in  rear  of  the  rifle 
pits,  where  the  remaining  regiments  of  the  brigade  joined  us.  At  daylight 
we  wer3  ordered  forward  and  moved  to  the  plateau  beyond  the  rifle  pits> 
and  rested  on  left  of  the  road  in  rear  of  1st  Brigade.  At  seven  A.  M.  we 
were  ordered  to  support  the  1st  Brigade,  as  they  moved  on  the 
enemy's  works.  The  13th  held  the  right  of  our  brigade,  and  following  by 
the  flank  along  the  ravine  close  in  rear  of  the  1st,  the  regiment  filed  into 
line,  the  right  forming  under  cover  of  a  ridge  of  ground  about  one  hun 
dred  yards  from  the  enemy's  works.  As  there  was  not  room  enough  to 
form  the  whole  regiment  in  line  there,  I  ordered  Lieutenant  Gardner, 
Acting  Adjutant,  to  take  the  five  left  companies,  pass  through  a  ravine, 
and  form  in  line  under  cover  of  another  ridge  on  the  left  of  the  ravine,  and 
nearly  parallel  with  the  right.  Soon  after,  Lieutenant  Gardner  was 
wounded,  as  also  Captain  Grosvenor,  Company  I,  still  the  left  moved  stead 
ily  to  the  position  referred  to.  At  this  point,  Colonel  Holcomb,  com 
manding  1st  Brigade,  fell  while  leading  his  command  to  the  charge,  and 
his  right  gave  way.  I  ordered  my  right  to  advance  to  their  support, 
which  they  did  under  a  heavy  fire  from  the  enemy's  works.  Lieutenant 
Strickland,  commanding  Company  F,  fell  here,  killed  instantly,  still  they 
maintained  the  position  nobly.  At  this  time,  I  ordered  the  regiment  to 
file  around  the  left  of  this  position,  and  move  forward  through  a  ravine  to 
a  height  which  overlooked  the  enemy's  works  and  not  more  than  twenty 
or  thirty  yards  from  them.  As  this  was  the  nearest  point  I  could  reach 
without  a  direct  assault  of  the  enemy's  works  which  we  had  no  instruc 
tions  to  do,  I  concluded  to  maintain  that  position  and  await  orders.  A 
regular  detail  of  sharpshooters  were  kept  at  work  on  the  brow  of  the 
height  till  sunset,  when  a  strong  picket  was  ordered  to  occupy  it,  which 
we  did  till  about  ten  P.  M.,  when  we  were  relieved  andjfordered  to  our  old 
position  which  we  left  on  the  morning  of  the  action.  We  lost  twenty-two 
killed  and  wounded,  which  I  have  reported  with  name,  rank  and  company 
in  full. 

Very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

CAPTAIN  A.  COMSTOCK, 

Commanding  13th  C.  V. 
To 

HORACE  J.  MORSE, 
Adjutant-General  State  of  Connecticut. 


315 


A  List  of  Casualties  in  13th  C.  V.  before  Port  Hudson,  June  14,  186&. 
KILLED — Company  C— Private  Thomas  Burns. 

Company  D — Corporal  Edward  McManus. 
Company  F—  1st  Lieutenant,  Joseph  Strickland. 

Private  Patrick  Carey. 

WOUNDED — Company  A — Drummer,  Charles  Merwin — afterwards  died. 
Company  B— Private,  John  P.  Weed. 
Company  C— Privates,  Frederick  Waldron, — since  died. 

James  H.  Dingae. 

Company  D — Privates,  Roswell  E.  Hopkins. 
Peter  Hiness. 
Dean  Bishop. 
James  Golden. 
Joseph  Astenhoffer. 
Company  E — Private,  August  Wilson. 
Company  F—  2d  Lieutenant,  William  C.  Gardner. 
Company  G — Private,  George  Donell. 
Company  H—  Private,  Edgar  A.  Nettleton. 
Company  /—Captain,  William  M.  Grosvenor. 
Corpora],  Frederick  J.  Shelley. 
Company  K—  Privates,  Bennett  Scovill. 
Richard  Hornby. 
John  P.  Cramm. 


RECAPITULATION. 

KILLED,  Commissioned  Officer, 

Enlisted  Men, 
WOUNDED,       Commissioned  Officers, 

Enlisted  Men, 


Total, 


-  -  1 

-  3 
2 

-  16 

22 

GEO.  W.  WHITTLESEY, 

Adjutant  13th  Conn.  Vols. 


HEAD-QUARTERS,  13TH  CONN.  VOLS.,  ) 
MORGANZIA,  LA.,  May  23rd,  1864.      } 

SIR: 

I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith  a  List  of  Killed  and  Wouncled  in 
the  13th  Regiment  Conn.  Vols.,  at  Cane  River  Ferry,  April  23rd,  1864. 
I  am,  Sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obd't  servant, 

C.  D.  BLINN, 

Col.  Comd'g. 
HORACE  J.  MORSE, 

Adjutant-General  State  of  Connecticut. 

LIST     OF     KILLED   AND   WOUNDED    IN    THE   13TH    CONN.    VOLS.    AT    CANE 

RIVER  FERRY,  APRIL  23RD,  1864. 
KILLED—  Company  D— Private,  Charles  Britz. 


316 

KILLED. —  Company  F — Private,  -Joseph  Garcia. 

Company  G — Private,  Thomas  L.  Gunter. 
WOUNDED — Company  A— Privates,  Stephen  A.  Matthews,  mortally. 

Julius  F.  Long,  slightly. 

Company  B — Sergeant,  Francis  C.  Weed,  slightly. 
Company  D — 1st  Lieutenant  Louis  Meissner,  mortally. 
Privates,  Dean  Bishop,  slightly. 
Henry  M.  Stevens,  slightly. 
Company  E—  Privates,  Nicholas  Schue,  slightly. 
Mark  McMann,        " 
William  A.  Adams, " 
Company  F—  Privates,  Frederick  Eckle,  slightly. 

Patrick  Martin          " 

Company  G — Sergeant,  William  Reynolds,  mortally. 
Corporal,  Frederick  Francis,  severely. 
Company  H—  Private  John  Meyers,  slightly. 
Company  /—Sergeant,  Francis  Preston,  severely. 
Corporals,  Fritz  Bowman,  slightly. 

Cornelius  Monroe,     " 

Privates,  James  Dillon,  " 

George  Pond,  " 

Edward  Fisher,          " 

Company  JT— Private,  Richard  O'Donnell,  severely. 

RECAPITULATION. 

KILLED,        Enlisted  Men,  -  3 

WOUNDED,   Commissioned  Officers,  -    1 

Enlisted  Men,  '    -  -20 

Total,  -  24 

C.  D.  BLINN, 

Col.  Commanding  Regt. 


HEAD-QUARTERS  13TH  REGIMENT  CONN.  VOLS.,      ) 
IN  THE  FIELD,  NEAR  HARRISOHBURG,  VA.,  Sept.  28th,  1864.  ) 
SIR:     . 

I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith  a  list  of  killed,  wounded  and  mis 
sing  of  my  regiment  in  the  battles  of  Winchester  and  Fisher's  Hill. 
I  am,  Sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  ob'd't  servant, 

C.  D.  BLINN, 

Col.  Commanding. 
To  HORACE  J.  MORSE, 

Adjutant-General,  State  of  Connecticut, 
Hartford,  Conn. 


317 

• 

List  of  Killed,  Wounded,  Prisoner?,  and  Missing,  13th  Conn.  Vols.,  at  the- 
Battle  of  Winchester,  Sept.  19th,  and  Battle  of  Fisher's  Hill,  Sept.22d, 
1864. 

Winchester,  Va.,  September  19th.  1F64. 
KILLED—  Company  A— Private,  Michael  West, 
Company  C— Private,  Oliver  Potter. 
Company  jE7— Private,  James  Coles. 
Company  F — Private,  Daniel  Laird. 
Company  E—  Private,  William  Malkin. 
Company  I — Private,  James  Dillon. 
WOUNDED—  Company  A— Private,  F.  Deming. 
William  Walker. 
F.  Meney. 
Company  B — Sergeant,  E.  Ruggles. 

Privates,  E.  S.  Blackman. 

T.  McGarrigal. 

Company  C— Corporal,  J.  H.  Pratt. 
Company  D — Private,  J.  Dillon. 
Company  E—  Privates,  H.  Parker. 

G.  M.  Harvey. 
J.  Warner. 
P.  Hayes. 
Company  .F— Sergeant  J.  T.  Reynolds, 

Private,  James  Case. 
Company  G — Corporals,  J.  Suarman. 
A.  Leleitner. 
Private,  A.  Ingraham. 
Company  #— Sergeant,  N.  Brown. 
Corporals,  H.  Bailey. 

A.  Blakeslee. 
Privates,  E.  Congo. 

William  Keating, 
Company  /—Sergeant  p].  Sauter. 

Corporals,  D.  H.  Geer. 
F.  Shelley. 

Privates,  J.  A.  Davidson. 
E.  Cogswell. 
W.  W.  Smith. 

Company  K — 1st  Sergeant,  S.  B.  Dunn. 
Sergeant,  M.  J.  Beecher 
Corporals,  R.  Hollinger. 
N.  J.  Lee. 
Prirates,  B.  Benson. 

M.  Campbell. 


318 

Privates  William  Cqjer. 
J.  Pauls. 
H.  VanderDahn. 

PRISONERS — Field  and  Staff'— Lieut.  Col.  H.  B.  Sprague. 
Company  A — Privates,  J.  J.  Lloyd. 

William  H.  Walker. 

Company  B—  1st  Lieutenant,  William  C.  Gardner. 
1st  Sergeant,  F.  K.  Weed. 
Sergeant,  F.  S.  Twitchell. 
Corporal,  W.  VV.  Jones. 
Privates,  J.  Kane. 

J.  E.  Sarles. 

Company  C— 1st  Sergeant,  H.  M.  Welch. 
Corporal,  W.  H.  Murphy. 
Private,  W.  Barnes. 
Company  D — Sergeant,  A.  Holford. 
Corporal,  L.  Walters. 
Privates,  D.  Bishop. 

E.  J.  Weldon. 
J.  B.  Andrus. 

Company  ^—Sergeant,  R.  Croley. 
Privates,  C.  Miller. 
A.  Geize. 

Company  F — Privates,  P.  Corney. 
A.  Vogel". 
Company  G — Privates,  M.  Kearney. 

C.  Rowen. 

D.  Moore. 
G.  Austin. 
J.  Brand. 

Company  H—  Corporal,  H.  W.  Bailey. 
Company  I—  Privates,  W.  W.  Smith. 
F.  L.  Wadhams. 
J.  M.  Kienly. 
MISSING — Company  B — Privates,  T.  Bradley. 

J.  Black — prisoner  two  months. 
J.  Thorn — absent  without  leave. 

Company  E—  Private,  J.   Greir— wounded  and  in  6th  Corps 

[Hospital. 
Company  G — Private,  A.  Schlosser — wounded. 

RECAPITULATION. 

KILLED,        Enlisted  men,  6 

WOUNDED,  Enlisted  men,    -  -    37 

PRISONERS,  Commissioned  officers,  -                                                 2 

"             Enlisted  men,    -            -  ..--'-    29 


319 

MISSING,        Enlisted  men,  5 

Total,  -    79 

Fisher's  Hill,  Va.,  September  22d,  1864. 
WOUNDED — Company  A— Private,  K.  Brennock. 
Company  7T— Private,  P.  Nelson. 


HEAD-QUARTERS,  13TH  CONN.  VOLS.,  ) 
IN  THE  FIELD,  October  26th,  1864.  j 
SIR: 

I  have  the  honor  to  transmit  herewith  a  list  of  the  killed,  wounded  and 
missing,  of  my  regiment  in  the  action  of  October  19th,  1864. 

**##*#:£;£ 

I  am,  sir,  very  respectfully, 

Your  obedient  servant, 
C.  D.  BLINN, 

Col.  Commanding. 
To 
HORACE  J.  MORSE, 

Adjutant-General  State  of  Connecticut, 

Hartford,  Conn. 
List  of  killed,  wounded  and  missing  of  the  13th  Reg't.  Conn.  Vols.  at  the 

battle  of  Cedar  Creek,  Oct.  19th.  1864. 
KILLED — Company  G — Private,  Louis  Foetish. 

Company  K—  Sergeant,  George  A.  Winslow,  Color-Sergeant. 
WOUNDED — Field  and  Staff— Major,  Apollos  Comstock. 
Company  A — Private,  Frederick  Hanson. 
Company  B — Corporal,  Peter  Gentier. 
Private,  Charles  Nichols. 
Company  C—  Private,  Alexander  Cook. 
Company  #— Private,  Charles  A.  Davis. 
Company  G — Corporal,  George  Bogue. 
Private,  Albert  Hopkins. 
Company  H — Corporal,  William  Black. 
Private,  Albert  Blakeslee. 
Company  /—Corporal,  Fritz  Bowman. 

Private,  Patrick  Hines. 
Company  K — Sergeant,  Herbert  C.  Baldwin. 
'    .  .  Corporals,  Rudolph  Busick. 

George  C.  Russell. 
Privates,  William  J.  Cojer. 

Michael  Zamphiropholos. 

MISSING — PRISONERS. —  Company  D — Privates,  Frederick  Jennings. 

Stephen  Tyrrell. 


320 

Company  D — Bernhard  Rodriggs. 
Company  E — Private,  John  Hoey. 
Company  F—  Private,  James  Reynolds. 
Company  G — Private,  Vinus  M.  San  ford. 
Company  1—  Private,  Adam  Plaum. 
Company  K — Privates,  Charles  F.  Wilson. 
James  Donnelly. 

RECAPITULATION. 

Killed,  -       2 

Wounded,  -  17 

Missing,          -  -       9 

Total  casualties,  -  -  28 


LIST  OF  FIELD  AND  STAFF  OFFICERS. 

THIRTEENTH    REGIMENT   CONN.    VOLS. 

Colonel  Henry  W.  Birge,  Norwich,  Nov.  2,  1861,  promoted  to  be  Briga 
dier  General,  Sept.  19,  1863. 

Colonel  Charles  D.  Blinn,  West  Cornwall,  Nov.  5,  1863 ;  mustered  out 
Jan.  6,  '65 ;  term  expired. 

Lieutenant-Colonel  Alexander  Warner,  Woodstock,  Nov.  5,  1861;  re 
signed  July  29,  1863. 

Lieut.  Col.  Charles  D.  Blinn,  West  Cornwall,  Oct.  o,  1863 ;  promoted  to 
be  Colonel,  Nov.  5,  1863. 

Lieut.  Col.  Homer  B.  Sprague,  New  Haven,  Nov.  5,  1863;  transferred 
to  Veteran  Battalion. 

Major  Richard  E.  Holcomb,  Granby,  Nov.  5,  1861;  appointed  Colonel  1st 
La.  Regt.,  August,  1862. 

Major  Alfred  Mitchell,  Norwich,  May  12,  1863;  declined  appointment 
Sept.  22,  1863. 

Major  Homer  B.  Sprague,  New  Haven,  Oct.  5,  1863;  Com'd.  Lieut.  Col. 
Nov.  5,  1863;  Col.  llth  C.  D.  A.,  Nov.  11,  1863. 

Major  Apollos  Comstock,  New  Canaan,  Nov.  5,  1863;  mustered  out  Jan. 
•6, 1865,  term  expired. 

Adjutant,  William  M.  Grosvenor,  New  Haven,  Dec.  25,  1861;  promoted 
to  be  Captain,  Dec.  31,  1862. 

Major  George  W.  Whittlesey,  Norwich,  Dec.  31,  1862;  honorably  dis 
charged  Oct.  8, 1863,  for  disability. 

Adjutant  Frederick  N.  Stanley,  New  Britain,  Oct.  19,  1864;  mustered 
out  (as  2d  Lieut.)  Jan.  6,  1865  ;  term  expired. 


321 

Chaplain,  Charles  C.  Salter,  New  Haven,  Feb.  5,  1862;  resigned  Jane 
15,  1862. 

Chaplain,  Henry  Upson,  Berlin,  June  16,  1862 ;  resigned  July  20,  1863. 

Quartermaster,  Joseph  B.  Bromley,  Norwich,  Nov.  12,  1861;  honorably 
discharged  Dec.  29,  1863. 

Quartermaster  William  Bishop,  Southington,  May  1,  1864;  mustered  out 
Jan.  6,  1865;  term  expired. 

Surgeon,  Benjamin  N.  Comings,  New  Britain,  Nov.  6,  1861 ;  resigned 
Jan.  26,  1863. 

Surgeon  George  Clary,  Hartford,  May  23,  1863;  transferred  to  Veteran 
Battalion. 

Sur.  Nathan  A.  Fisher,  Norwich,  March  7, 1863;  declined  commission. 

1st  Assistant  Surgeon,  George  Clary,  Hartford,  Nov.  9,  1861;  promoted 
to  be  Surgeon  May  23,  1863. 

1st  Assistant  Surgeon  Samuel  McClellan,  New  Haven,  July  9, 1863;  mus 
tered  out  Jan.  6,  '65;  term  expired. 

2d  Assistant  Surgeon,  Nathan  A.  Fisher,  Norwich,  Feb.  4,  1862;  pro 
moted  to  be  Surgeon,  March  7, 1863. 

Samuel  McClellan,  New  Haven,  March  14,  1863;  promoted  to  be  1st 
Assistant  Surgeon,  July  9,  1863. 

Lucius  W.  Clark,  Winsted,  July  9,  1863;  transferred  to  Veteran  Battal 
ion. 

FIELD  AND  STAFF  VETERAN  BATTALION  THIRTEENTH   CON 
NECTICUT  VOLUNTEER  INFANTRY. 

Homer  B.  Sprague,  Lieut.  Col. ;  transferred  from  13th  Regt.  Connec 
ticut  Vols. 

George  Clary,  Surgeon;  transferred  from  13th  Regt.  Connecticut  Vol 
unteers. 

Lucius  W.  Clarke,  Assistant  Surgeon;  transferred  from  13th  Regt.  Con 
necticut  Volunteers. 

NON-COMMISSIONED    STAFF. 

John  L.  Keeney,  Sergeant-major;  promoted  from  private  Company  B. 

William  W.  King,  Quartermaster  Sergeant;  promoted  from  private  Co. 
D. 

Frederick  C.  Palmer,  Hospital  Steward;  promoted  from  Corporal  Co. 
B. 

Calvin  B.  Beebee,  Commissary  Sergeant;  transferred  from  13th  Regt. 
Connecticut  Vols. 

DISCHARGKD. 

Charles  H.  Gaylord,  Sergeant-major;  promoted  to  2d  Lieut.  January  11, 
1865. 

DESERTED. 

Joseph  Hadley,  Drum-major;  deserted  Aug.  27, 1864,  at  New  Haven,  Ct. 

28 


322 


COMPANY  "A"  VETERAN  BATTALION,  THIRTEENTH  CONNECTI 
CUT  VOLUNTEERS. 

William  C.  Gardner,  Captain;  promoted  from   1st   Lieut,   to   Captain, 
Dec.  22,  1865. 

Isaac  W.  Bishop,  1st  Sergeant;  promoted  from  Sergeant  to  1st  Sergeant 
July  1,  1865. 

Orrin  M.  Price,  Sergeant;   transferred  from  Company   F,  as  Sergeant, 
Dec.  29, 1864. 

George  F.  Bogue      "  "  "       .    "  "  " 

Dec.  29,  1864. 

James  O'Neil,  "  "  "  "  "  " 

Clark  Dickson,  Sergeant  ;promoted  from  private  to  Sergeant,  Jan.  1,'66. 

George   Brown,    Corporal ;  transferred  as    Corporal  from  Company  F, 
Dec.  29,  1864.- 

John  Ryan,  "  "  " 

John  R.  Parker,        "  "  " 

Wm.  L.  Richmond, "  "  "  " 

Mortimer  R.  Keeney,  Corporal;  promoted  to  Corporal,  July  1,  1865. 

Henry  Waterbury,  "          "  "  July  1,  1865. 

Edmoad  Try  an,  Musician;  transferred  as  musician   from  Company   F, 
Dec.  29,  1864. 

Austin,  Jonathan,  Private. 

Bissell,  Frederick  I.  " 

Black,  William,  " 

Brown,  William  A.  " 

Carney,  John, 
Donohue,  Henry, 
Fleharty,  William 
Fowler,  Samuel  F. 
Fraser,  John,  " 

Gaffney,  Francis  J.  " 

Gardner,  James, 
Hanson,  Frederick, 
Hale,  Edwin,  " 

Heganny,  Derwin, 
Hall,  Isaiah,  " 

Johnson,  Abel, 
Jaquays,  David  D.  " 

Kelly,' Peter, 
Kinney,  John, 
Kehr,  Jacob, 

Lennard,  Thomas,  "  "  "  April  8,  1864. 

Leibensperger,  Samuel,    "  "  "  Feb.  29,  1864. 

Minney,  Francis,  "  "  "  April  16,  1864. 


Vol.  recruit,  joined  Feb.  20,1864. 
"  "  Feb. 20, 1864. 

"  "  March  28,  1864. 

"  "  Feb.  27,  1864. 


Aug.  30,  1864. 


323 

Maguire,  John,        Private,  Volunteer  recruit,  joined  Jan.  30,  1865. 

Nichols,  Charles,  " 

Patten,  Charles,  " 

Peck,  Chester  D. 

Perritt,  Andrew, 

Powers,  Thomas,  " 

Prindle,  George, 

Quigley,  John,  " 

Robinson,  Robert,  " 

Ruggles,  Sidney,  B.  " 

Rigley,  Thomas,  " 

Shipman,  William, 

Smith,  John,  " 

Sullivan,  Henry,  "  "  "  Feb.  27,  1864 

Marion,  Francis,  colored  under  cook. 

DISCHARGED. 

William  E.  Bradley,  Captain;  discharged  by  resignation  Aug.  14,  1865. 

D  unbar,  Everett  E.,  Sergeant;  discharged  to  accept  commission  as  2nd 
Lieutenant,  April  25,  1865. 

Reynolds,  John  F.,  Sergeant;  discharged  May  1st,  1865,  by  Special  Or 
der,  No.  1,  Head-Quarters,  Department  of  the  East. 

Ruggles,  Elbert  L.,  Sergeant;  discharged  May  6,  1865,  for  disability. 

Weed,  Francis  E.,  Sergeant;  discharged  August  12,  1865,  by  order  of 
War  Department. 

Mohran,  John,  Corporal;  discharged  June  26, 1865,  expiration  of  term  of 
service. 

Gentier,  Peter,  Corporal;  discharged  Aug.  12, 1865. 

North,  John  C.,  Wagoner;  discharged  October  27, 1865,  by  order  of  War 
Department. 
Balling,   George  W.,   Private;    discharged  Aug.  12,  1865;  expiration  of 

term  of  service. 
Blackman,   Elisha  S.,   Private;  discharged  July  20,  1865,  for  disability 

at  Knights  Hospital,  New  Haven,  Conn. 
Campbell,  John,  Private;  discharged  Aug.  16,  1865;   expiration  of  term 

of  service. 

Case,  James,  Private;  discharged  July  3,1865,  for  disability. 
Connelly,  John,     u       discharged  Aug.  26,  1864,  for  disability. 
Emmerick,    Balthazar,  Private;  discharged    Aug.   12,  1865,    expiration 

of  term  of  service. 
Fay,    Michael,    Private;  discharged  Aug.  12,  1865;  expiration  of   term 

of  service. 
Fest,   Albert,   Private;   discharged  Aug.  12,  1865;  expiration  of  term  of 

service. 
Gangloff,  Henry,  Private;  discharged  June  31,  1865,  for  disability. 


324 

Hempstead,  Charles  Y.,  Private;  discharged  Sept.   13,   1865,  by    order 

of  War  Department. 

Jones,  William  W.,  Private ;  disch'd  May  12, 1865 ;  by  order  of  War  Dept. 
Kallahan,  Patrick,    Private;    discharged  June  26,   1865;    expiration    of 

term  of  service. 
Kallahan,   Francis,  Private;    discharged  June  26,   1865;    expiration    of 

term  of  service. 
McGarrigal,    Terry,     Private;     discharged   Aug.  2,  1865;  expiration  of 

term  of  service. 
Miller,   Jacob,  Private;  discharged   July  18,  1865;  expiration  of  term  of 

service. 
Nelson,  Henry,      "        discharged  May   1,   1865;   expiration  of  term    of 

service. 
Peterson,  John,     "         discharged  June  26,  1865;  expiration  of  term   of 

service.  [vice. 

Robertson,  Morunt  J.,  Private;  discharged  June  26,  1865.  ex.  term  of  ser- 
Rouche,  Nicholas,    Private;  discharged  for  disability,  August  16, 1865,  by 

order  of  War  Department. 
Ryan,   \Villiam,    Private;    discharged  June  23.  1865,   by    Special   order 

Headquarters  Dept.  of  the  East. 
Schmidt,  Louis,   Private;  discharged  May  12,  1865;   expiration  of  term 

of  service. 

Smith,  James,  Private;  discharged  July  18,  1865,  by  Special  Order,  Head- 
Quarters*  Department  of  the  South. 

Sailes,  John  E.,   discharged  July  18,  1865;  expiration  of  term  of  ser 
vice. 
Webb,  William   L.,  Private;   discharged  Aug.   12,  1865;  by  order  of  War 

Department. 
Wolff,   Francis  J.,   Private;  discharged  for  disability  Aug.  12,  1865;  by 

order  of  War  Department. 

TRANSFERRED. 

George  H.  Pratt,  2d  Lieutenant;  transferred  to  Company  C,  January  8, 
1865. 

William  B.  Tooker,  2d  Lieutenant;  transferred  to  Company  D,  Aug.  2, 
1865. 

Benjamin  L.  Mead,  Corporal;  transferred  to  Company  D,  Dec.  31,1864. 

Berdine,  Theodore,  Private ;  transferred  to  Company  D,  Dec*  31,  1864. 

Clark,  Louis  M.,  Private;  "  "     Feb.  13,  1865. 

Fisher,  John,  "  "  "     Dec.  31,  1864. 

Flannery,  Thomas,  Private;        "  "     Dec.  31,  1864. 

Pyatt,  Samuel  S.,          "  "  "     Dec.  31,  1864. 

Reynolds,  James,  "  "  B,     Dec.  31,1864. 

Schwikart,  Philip,         "  "  B,     Dec.  31,  1864. 

Schaffer,  John,  "  "  D,     Dec.  31,1864. 

Stranger,  Irwin  A.,  Private;  transferred  to  Company  D,  Dec.  31,  1864. 

Ephraim,  Wells,  colored  cook;  transferred  to  Company  D,  Dec.  31,  '64. 


325 


DIED. 

Twitchell,  Franklin  S  ,  Sergeant;  died  Dec.  19,  1864,  while  prisoner  of 
war  at  Salisbury,  N.  C. 

Cosgrove,  James,  Private;  died  Sept.  1,  1865,  at  Jefferson,  Jackson  Co., 
Georfia. 

Vogel,  August,  Private;  died  while  prisoner  of  war,  Salisbury,  N.  C. 

DESEUTED. 

Brennick,  Kennedy,  Private ;  deserted  July  28,  1865,  at  Augusta,  Ga. 

Black,  John,                   "  deserted  July  28,  1865, 

Lantry,  Edwin,              "  "        July  5,  1865, 

McLaughlin,  James,      "  ';        Dec.  6,  1864;  Relay  House,  Md. 

Thome,  Joseph,             "  "     •  Aug.  26,  1865,  Augusta,  Ga. 

Walker,  William  H.,    "  "        Aug.  28, 1865,  Athens,  Ga. 

Wright,  Isaac,               "  "        July  27,  1865,  Augusta,  Ga. 

Wright,  William,  "  "        Feb.  9,  l864,Thibodeaux,  La. 

Yale,  Russell,  "  "        Oct.  6,  1865,  Jefferson,  Ga. 


COMPANY  "B"  VETERAN  BATTALION  THIRTEENTH  CONNEC 
TICUT  VOLS. 

Frank  Wells,  Captain ;  promoted  from  1st  Lieutenant  to  Captain,  March 
17,  1864. 

Samuel  S.  Taylor,  2d  Lieutenant ;  promoted  from  Sergeant  Company  B, 
to  2d  Lieutenant  Co.  B,  Jan.  11,  1865. 

Garrett  Herbert,  1st  Sergeant;  promoted  from  Sergeant  to  1st  Sergeant 
Jan.  1,  1865. 

Englebert  Sauter,  Sergeant;  Sergeant  at  Original  Organization  of  Bat 
talion. 

Edward  Thomas,  Sergeant;  promoted  from  Corporal  Aug.  1,  1865. 

Henry  F.  Bishop        "  to  Sergeant  Nov.  24, 1866. 

Hugh  Dorain,  "  "  from  Corporal  Nov.  1,  1865,  to  Ser 

geant,  Dec.  13,  1865. 

Michael  Burke,  Corporal;  promoted  to  Corporal  Nov.  24,  1865. 

Ulrich  Burghart        "  "  Nov.  25,  1865. 

Henry  M.  Whiteman,  Corporal;  promoted  to  Corporal  Nov.  24,  1865. 

Edward  E.  Fisher,  "  Dec.  13, 1865. 

Albrich,  William,        Private. 

Barbour,  Henry  M.,        "  % 

Barnes,  Anson  E., 

Botsford,  John  N. 

Davidson,  Eugene,          "        Vol.  recruit,  joined  Sept.  7,  1864. 

28* 


326 

Dillon,  John,  Pz-ivate. 

Fisher,  John,  "        Vol.  recruit,  joined  Aug.  16,  1864. 

Gardner,  Joseph  A.,  " 

Gorman,  William,  "        Vol.  recruit,  joined  Feb.  26,  1864. 

Hayes,  Alonzo,  " 

Herbert,  Patrick,  " 

Immich,  Peter,  " 

Johnson,  John  B., 

Long,  Henry,  " 

Losaw,  George,  " 

Me  Gee?  Thomas, 

O'Brien,  Cornelius,  "        VoL.recruit,  joined  Feb.  20,  1864. 

Policy,  Henry  E.,  " 

Eemy,  Philip  A.,  " 

Reltrath,  Henry,  " 

Reynolds,  James, 

Root,  George,  " 

Smith,  William,  "        Vol.  recruit,  joined  Jan.  9,  1864. 

Skiff,  Walter,  " 

Stevens,  Henry  M.,  " 

Stoddard,  Horace  B,  " 

Tyler,  Martin  W.,  " 

Underbill,  William,  "         Vol.  recruit,  joined  Feb.  2,  1864. 

Frank  May,  colored  under  cook. 

Abner  M.  Sterry,  2cl  Lieutenant;  promoted  to  1st  Lieutenant  and  trans 
ferred  to  Company  D,  Jan.  7,  1865. 

John  C.  Kinney,  1st  Lieutenant;  resignation  accepted  by  General  Order 
War  Department,  Jan.  7,  1865. 

William  B.  Tooker,  1st  Sergeant;  promoted  from  1st  Sergeant  Co.  B  to 
2d  Lieutenant  Co.  A,  Jan.  11,  1865. 

John  Duress,  Sergeant;  discharged  June  26,  1865,  by  expiration  of  term 
of  service. 

Fritz  Bowman,  Corporal;  discharged  June  26,  1865,  by  expiration  of 
term  of  service.  * 

Louis  Walters,  Corporal ;  discharged  May  26,  1865,  by  expiration  of  term 
of  service. 

George  W.  Everts,  Musician :  discharged  Aug.  2, 1865,  for  disability. 

Albert  Bunnell,  Wagoner;  discharged  Dec.  19,  1865,  by  General  Order, 
War  Department. 

DISCHARGED. 

Atzenhoffer,   Antonio,   Private;  discharged  June  26,  1865,  by  expiration 

of  term  of  service. 
Birger,   Dennis,  Private;   discharged  June  26,  1865,    by    expiration    of 

term  of  service. 


327 


Brown,  James,   Private;    discharged  June  26,  1865,  by     expiration    of 

term  of  service. 
Cearck,   William,        "        discharged  June  26,  1865,  by  expiration  of 

term  of  service.    . 
Davidson,  Ira  A., 

War  Department. 
Duffy,  Thomas, 

term  of  service. 
Ellison,  Edward. 

term  of  service. 
Falklink,  Gotlieb,     "        discharged  June  26,  1865,    by     expiration   of 

term  of  service. 
Fruin,  Richard,         "        discharged    June  26,   1865,  by    expiration    of 

term  of  service. 
Fiunemore,   William,  Private;    discharged  Aug.   12,  1865,    by    General 

Order,  War  Department. 
Gaylor,  Mortimer,  "         discharged  June  26,   1865,  by  expiration 

of  term  of  service. 
Greaves,  John, 

of  term  of  service. 
Hines,  Patrick,  ' 

der,  War  Department. 
Holford,  Andrew, 

der,  War  Department. 
Heiness,  Peter, 

term  of  service. 
Heeker,  Charles,  * 

of  term  of  service. 
Heedricks,  Casper,          " 

term  of  service. 
Hettinger,  Louis, 

term  of  service. 
Kuhlman,  Henry,  u 

term  of  service. 
Monahan,  Joseph, 

term  of  service, 
Mitchell,  Joseph  T,          < 
Provost,  Rufus,  ' 

War  Department. 
Pond,  George  J,- 
Pouch,  Frederick, 

term  of  service. 
Rodrigues,  Bernard, 

War  Department. 
Schwikart,  Philip,  ' 

term  of  service. 


discharged  Aug.  12,  1S65,   by    General   Order, 

discharged   Aug.   24,   1865,   by   expiration  of 

discharged    June    26,  1865,  by   expiration    of 


discharged  June  17,  1865,  by  expiration 
discharged  Aug.  12, 1865,  by  General  Or- 
discharged  Aug.  12, 1865,  by  General  Or- 
discharged  June  26,  1965,  by  expiration  of 
discharged  June  26,  1865,  by  expiration 
discharged  June  26,  1865,  by  expiration  of 
discharged  June  26,  1865,  by  expiration  of 
discharged  June  26,  1865,  by  expiration  of 
discharged  Oct.  9,  1865,  by  expiration  of 

discharged  Aug.  11, 1865,  for  disability. 
discharged  Oct.  11,  1865,  by  General  Order 

discharged  July  19,  1865,  for  disability, 
discharged  June  26,  1865,  by  expiration  of 

discharged  Aug,  12,  1865,  by  General  Order 
discharged  May  25,  1865,  by  expiration  of 


328 

Simon,  Auguste,  Private,  discharged  Aug.  21,  1865,  by  General  Or 
der*  War  Department. 

Smith,  Edward,  "  discharged  June  26,  1865,  by  expiration  of 

term  of  service. 

Smith,  Wallace  W.,  "  discharged  September  7,  1865,  by  General 

Order,  War  Department. 

Snyder,  James,  "  discharged  Nov.  3,  1865,  by  General  Order 

War  Department. 

Tyrrell,  Stephen,  "  discharged  Sept.  15,  1865,  by  General  Or 

der  No.  1,  Head-Quarters,  Department  of  the  East. 

Wagnor,  Charles,  "  discharged  May  18, 1865,  by  expiration  of 

term  of  service. 

TRANSFERRED. 

Frederick  Palmer,  Corporal;  transferred  by  promotion  to  Hospital  Stew 
ard,  Jan.  7,  1865. 

William  H.  Norris,  Corporal;  transferred  to  Veteran  Reserve  Corps, 
June  30,  1865. 

Joel  Congdon,  Private ,  transferred  to  Co.  "C,"  S.  0.,  No.  3,  Headquart 
ers  13th  C.  V.,  Jan.  3,  1865. 

Robert  Johnson,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  transferred  to  Department  N.W. 
Dec.  27, 1864.  ^ 

John  L.  Keeney,  Private;  transferred  by  promotion  to  Sergeant-major, 
Jan.  1,  1865. 

DIED. 

William  H.  Tucker,  Sergeant;  died  at  Athens,  Ga.,  Dec.  6, 1865. 

Andrews,  Thomas  B.,  Private;  died  Nov.  7,  1864,  while  prisoner  of  war  in 
Salisbury,  N.  C. 

Banker,  Philo,  Private;  died  May  6,  1865,  at  New  Milford,  Connecticut. 

Bishop,  Dean,  Private ;  died  December  21, 1864;  while  prisoner  of  war 
Salisbury,  N.  C. 

Plaum,  Adam,  Private;  died  December  5,  1864,  while  prisoner  of  war, 
Salisbury,  N.  C. 

Riley,  William,  Private ;  died  June  8, 1865,  at  New  Haven,  Connecticut. 

Vogel,  August,  Private;  died  Feb.  14,  1865,  while  prisoner  of  war,  Salis 
bury,  N.  C. 

Weldon,  Edward  J.,  Private;  died  Nov.  24,  1864,  while  prisoner  of  war, 
Salisbury,  N.  C. 

DESERTED. 

Butler,  Charles,  Private;  deserted  Sept.  27,  1865,  at  Clarksville,  Ga. 
Fiscus,  Henry,  Private;  deserted  March  1,  1866,  at  Augusta,  Ga. 
Hoctor,  Daniel,  Private;  deserted  March  27, 1865,  at  Newbern,  N.  C. 
Harper, .Henry,  Private;  deserted  Jan.  11,  1865,  Camp  Russell,  Va. 


329 

Meade,  Thomas,  Private;  deserted  Aug.  22,  1865,  Augusta,  Ga. 
Thompson,  George,  Private;  deserted  Dec.  14,  1864,  Camp  Russell,  Va. 
Wiseman,  Thomas,  Private;  deserted  Aug.  22,  1865,  Augusta,  Ga. 


Sergeant,  Oct.  19, 1864. 
to  Sergeant  from  Cor- 

to  Sergeant  from  Cor- 


COMPANY    "  C "    VETERAN    BATTALION,   THIRTEENTH  CONN. 

VOLUNTEERS. 
Newton  W.  Perkins,  Captain ;  transferred  from  Co.  D,  13th  C.  V.  to  Co.  G 

13th  Batt. 
George  H.  Pratt,  1st  Lieutenant ;  promoted  from  2d  Lieutenant  to  1st  Lieut. 

Jan.  8, 1865,  transferred  from  A  to  C. 
Miles  J.  Beecher,  1st  Sergeant;  Vet.  Vol.,  promoted  to  1st  Sergeant,  Jan. 

11,  1865. 

Bennett,   W.   Pierce,  Sergeant;        " 
Frank  C.  Bristol,  Sergeant ; 

poral,  July  11, 1865. 
Frank  F.  Phiffer,  Sergeant; 

poral,  Aug.  23,  1865,  transferred  from  E  to  C. 
Frank B.  Hitchcock,  Sergeant;  Vet.  Vol.  promoted  to  Corporal  Aug.  23, 

1865,  to  Sergeant  March  1,  1866. 

George  C.  Russell,  Corporal ;  Vet.  Vol.  Corporal  at  organization  of  Battal 
ion,  absent  since  March  3,  1866. 

John, Gall,  Corporal;  Vet.  Vol.  Corporal  at  organization  of  Battalion. 
Philip  Neilson,  Corporal;  " 
Bernard  Fagan,  Corporal;  Vol.  recruit  promoted  to  Corporal,  Feb.  1, 1864, 

absent  without  leave  since  March  24,  1866. 

Isaac  B.  Lewie,  Corporal;  Vol.  recruit  promoted  to  Corporal  March  1,  '66. 
Richard  Hornby,  Corporal ;  Vet.  Vol.  promoted  to  Corporal  March  1,  '66. 
Joseph  Congden,  Wagoner;  Vet.  Vol.  transferred  from  D  to  C. 
Barry,  Richard,      Private;  Vol.  recruit. 


Brainard  Ezra, 

Sutton,  Patrick,  " 
Hagadon,  Thomas  P. " 
Laddy,  James, 
McCabe,  John, 

McGrath,  Michael,  " 

Montgomery  Wm.  " 

Norman,  John  H.,  " 

O'Callahan,  Thos.,  " 

Pierce,  Charles,  " 

Kyan,  John,  " 

Stanly,  Edward,  " 
Sullivan,  John, 

Vandertam,  Henry,  " 


Vet.  Vol. 

it 

Vol.  recruit. 

"     transferred  from  H  to  C. 
Vet,  Vol. 

"     transferred  from  H  to  C. 
Substitute  recruit. 
Vol.  recruit. 
Sub.  recruit. 
Vol.  recruit. 
Sub.  recruit. 
Vet.  Vol. 
Sub.  recruit. 
Vol.  recruit. 


330 

Walter,  John,  Private;  Vet.  Vol.;  transferred  from  H  to  C,  absent  sick  in 

Hospital. 
Wells,  Ephraim,  under-cook;  transferred  from  A  to  C. 

DISCHARGED. 

John  W.  Maddux,  2d  Lieutenant;  dishonorably  dismissed  for  absence 
without  leave  since  Dec.  1865. 

Everett  E.  Dunbar,  2cl  Lieutenant;  resigned  Aug.  16,  1865. 

Herbert  Baldwin,  1st  Sergeant;  Vet.  Vol.  discharged  Jan.  11,  1865,  mus 
tered  as  2d  Lieutenant,  Jan  11,  1865,  assigned  to  E. 

Newell  J.  Lee,  Sergeant;  Vet.  Vol.  discharged  May  22, 1865,  for  disability. 

Nathaniel  Brown,  Sergeant;  Vet.  Vol.;  discharged  Feb.  10,  1865,  for  dis 
ability  caused  by  wounds. 

Herman  Sanders,  Sergeant;  Vol.  recruit  discharged  June  26,  1865,  by  ex 
piration  of  term  of  service. 

Robert  Hollinger,  Corporal;  Vet.  Vol.  discharged  June  27,  1865;  for  dis 
ability  caused  by  wounds. 

Samuel  G.  Carpenter,  Corporal;  Sub.  recruit  discharged  Aug.  12,  1865,  by 
telegraph  order  War  Department,  A.  G.  0. 

Barber,  Elam,  Private;  drafted,  received  discharge  Aug.  12,  1865,  tele 
graph  order  War  Department,  A.  G.  0. 

Bowen,  Charles  A.,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  received  discharge  Aug.  12,  '65. 

Brown,  Roland  C.,        "         drafted,  received  discharge  Aug.  12,  1865. 

Burke,  Michael,  "        Sub.  recruit,  received  discharge  Aug.  12,  1865. 

Campbell,  Michael,  "  discharged  June  20,  1865,  by  expiration  of 
term  of  service. 

Coper,  William  J.,      "        Vet.  Vol.  discharged  June  27,  1865. 

Crarel,  Charles  C.,  "  Vol.  recruit,  discharged  Aug.  20,  1865,  trans 
ferred  from  H  to  C. 

Dallege,  Earnest,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  discharged  Aug.  12,  1865,  by  tele 
graph  order,  War  Department,  A.  G.  0. 

Doyle,  Dennis,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  discharged  June  26,  1865,  Hartford, 
Conn.,  by  expiration  of  term  of  service. 

Donnelly,  James,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  discharged  Aug.  12,  1865,  by 
telegraph  order,  WTar  Department,  A.  G.  0. 

Elemer,  George,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  discharged  Aug."  12,  1865,  tele 
graph  order,  War  Department,  A.  G.  0. 

Finlis,  John,  Private:  Vol.  recruit,  discharged  Jan.  6,  1865,  for  disability. 

Gorman,  Thomas  L.,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  discharged  Aug.  12,  1865,  by 
telegraph  order,  War  Department,  A.  G.  0. 

Hays,  William  B.,  Private;  drafted  recruit,  discharged  Jan.  5,  1865,  by 
order  Major  General  Grover,  in  the  field. 

Hafferman,  Michael,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  discharged  May  30,  1865,  for 
disability. 

Holmes,  Thomas,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  discharged  Aug,  12,  18-15,  by  tele 
graph  order,  W7ar  Department,  A.  G.  0. 


331 

Kanseller,  William,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  discharged  Aug.  12,  1865,  by 
telegraph  order,  War  Department,  A.  G.  0. 

King,  William,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  discharged  June  26,  1865,  by  expira 
tion  of  term  of  service. 

Newton,  Horace,  Private;  Sub  "  discharged  Aug.  12,  1865,  by  tele 
graph  order,  War  Department,  A.  G.  0. 

O'Donnell,  Richard,  Private,  Vet.  Vol.  discharged  June  5,  1865,  for  dis 
ability. 

O'Donuell,  Michael,  Private;  Vol. recruit,  discharged  March  6,  1865. 

Paulick,  Andrew,  Sub.  recruit,  discharged  Aug.  12,  1865,  by  telegraph 
order,  War  Department,  A.-  G.  0. 

Payne,  Clarence  D.,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  discharged  Sept.  21,  1865;  by 
telegraph  order,  War  Department,  concerning  prisoners. 

Pendergrast,  Michael.  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  discharged  Aug.  12,  1865,  by 
telegraph  order,  War  Department. 

Rhodes,  Philip,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  discharged  Aug.  12,  1865. 

Russell,  Auguste,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  discharged  J\ine  26,  1865,  by  ex 
piration  of  term  of  service. 

Ryan,  William,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  discharged  Jan.  26,  1865,  by  ex 
piration  of  term  of  service. 

Strett,  Thomas,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  discharged  Aug.  12,  1865,  by  tele 
graph  order,  War  Department,  A.  G.  0. 

Sullivan,  Patrick,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  discharged  Aug.  12,  1865,  by  tele 
graph  order,  War  Department,  A.  G.  0. 

Stephen,  John,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  discharged  June  26,  1865,  by  expi 
ration  of  term  of  service. 

Sine,  William,  Private ;  Sub.  recruit,  discharged  May  27,  1865,  for.  disabil 
ity- 

Sinkup,  Neuzel,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  discharged  March  9,  1865,  for  dis 
ability. 

Woatler,  Andrew,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  discharged  Nov.  25,  1865,  by  ex 
piration  of  term  of  service. 

Wirternberger,  John,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  discharged  June  26,  1865,  by 
expiration  of  term  of  service. 

Whitney,  Joseph,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  discharged  Aug.  12,  1865,  by  tele 
graph  urder,  War  Department,  A.  G.  0. 

Wilson,  Charles  F.,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  discharged  Aug.  12,  1865,  by 
telegraph  order,  War  Department,  A.  G.  0. 

TRANSFERRED. 

Dinzer,  Harris,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.June  26, 1864. 
Zanphuropolis,  Michael,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  transferred  to  V.  R.  C.  April 
23,  1865. 


332 


DIED. 

DeChamps,  Peter,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  died  March  14,  1865,  Savannah, 
Ga. 

DESERTED. 

Rudolph,  Burick,  Corporal;  Vol.  recruit;  deserted  Jan.  11, 1865,  Baltimore, 
Maryland. 

Anderson,  George,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  deserted  Jan.  28,  1865,  Baltimore, 
Maryland,  transferred  from  H  to  C. 

Buck,  Adam,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  deserted  Nov.  24,  New  Orleans,  La., 
transferred  from  H  to  C. 

Behi,  Charles,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  discharged  Aug.  20,  1865,  recruiting 
depot. 

Campbell,  Alexander,  Private;   Sub.  recruit,  deserted  Aug.  26,  1865,  re 
cruiting  depot. 

Coisery,  Edwardj  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  deserted  Jan  11,  1865,  Baltimore, 
Maryland. 

Hildt,  Charles,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  Aug.  6,  1865,  recruiting  depot. 

Hutton,  Andrew,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  deserted  Jan.  11,  1865,  Baltimore, 
Maryland. 

Johnson,  William  B.,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  deserted  from  confinement  at 
Fort  Jefferson,  transferred  from  H.  to  C. 

Kallahen,  John,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  deserted  Jan.  11,  1865,  Baltimore, 
Maryland. 

Louis,  Louis,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  deserted  Aug.  8,  1865,  Baltimore,  Md. 

Murdy,  Henry,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  deserted  April  16,  1866,  Dahlonega, 
Georgia. 

Murphy,  Patrick,  Private;  Sub.   recruit,   deserted  from  confinement  at 
Port  Jefferson,  transferred  from  H.  to  C. 

Miller,  Fritz,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  deserted  from  recruiting  depot,  Aug. 
6,  1865. 

Nolan,    fames,  Private;  Vet.  Vol.,  deserted  Jan.  8,  1865,  at   Baltimore, 
transferred  from  H  to  C. 

Roberts,  Alexander,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  April  16,  1866. 

Seville,  Bennett,  Private;  Vet.  Vol.,  deserted  July  30,  1865,  at  Augusta, 
Georgia 

Turner,  James  W.,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  deserted  Jan.  11,  1865,  at  Balti 
more,  Md. 

Theobold,   Alexander,   Private;   Sub.  recruit,  deserted  April  16,  1866,  at 
Dahlonega. 

Willard,  Nathaniel,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  deserted  July  30,   1865,   at  Au 
gusta,  Ga. 

Taufer  Willis,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  deserted  July  30, 1865,  at   Aususta, 
Georgia. 

Willis,  James  A.,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  deserted  July  30, 1865,  at  Augus 
ta,  Ga. 


333 


COMPANY    "D"    VETERAN   BATTALION   THIRTEENTH    CONN. 
VOLUNTEERS. 

Louis  Beckwith,  Captain ;  assigned  to  command  Company. 

William  B.  Tooker,  1st.  Lieutenant;  promoted  from  2d  Lieutenant  Co.  A. 
to  1st  Lieutenant  Co.  D,  June  20,  1865. 

Charles  H.  Gaylord,  2d  Lieutenant;  promoted  from  Sergeant-major  to  2d 
Lieutenant,  Jan.  2,  1865. 

Francis  Huxford,  1st  Sergeant. 

Theodore  Palmer,  Sergeant. 

Leon  ard  L .  J)  ou  gal ,        " 

John  Lincoln,  Jr.,          " 

Thomas  J.  West,  " 

John  Suarman,  Corporal. 

Anson  Sulzer,  " 

Edward  Skinner,       " 

Charles  Culver,         "        promoted  to  Corporal  Sept.  29,  1865. 

Howard  T.  Marsh,     "  «          "        "         Sept.   29,   1865,  vol.   re 

cruit,  March  9,  1864. 

Walter  McGrath,  Corporal,       "         "        "  "  " 

Frederick  Schul,        "  "        "        "         Jan.  23,  1866. 

John  Fitzgerald,  musician. 

Norman  W.  Beaton,     " 

Francis  C.  Bowen,  wagoner. 

Austin.  George  J.,        Private. 

Brand,  John,  " 

Birge,  George  F.,  " 

Cadwell,  Albert  M.,  " 

Carey,  Michael,  " 

Dunton,  Charles,  "        Vol.  recruit,  Jan.  23,  1865. 

Dorsey,  John,  " 

Eichelberger,  John,  "        Vol.  recruit,  March  22, 1864. 

Francis,  Fredericks  "        Reduced  from  Sergeant  Jan  23,  1865. 

Gill,  Henry,  » 

Hart,  Thomas,  "        Vol.  recruit,  Dec.  16,  1864. 

Hackney,  Joseph  N.,         "        Vol.  recruit,  Aug.  17,  1864. 

Harvey,  George  M.,  " 

Hurlburt,  Henry  A.,          " 

Ingraham,  Asahel,  " 

Jennings,  George,  "        Vol.  recruit,  June  30,  1865. 

Moore,  Daniel,  " 

Moran,  Thomas,  " 

Parker,  Henry,  «        Vol.  recruit,  March  22,  1864. 

Pyatt,  Samuel,  " 

Regan,  Hugh,  " 

29 


334 


Rowe,  James,  Private. 

Reynolds,  Joseph  N.        " 
Ryan,  John,  u 

Sloan,  Michael, 
Weaver,  George,  " 

Woodworth,  John,  " 

Woodworth,  James  H.,    " 
Woodworth,  William  H., " 


Vol.  recruit,  Jan.  30,  1865. 
.  "  Dec.  7,  1864. 

Vol.  recruit,  Aug.  10,  1864. 


DISCHARGED. 

Adams,  William  A.,        Private;  discharged  by  order  of  VV.  D.,  May  4,  '65. 
Bergline,  Theodore, 

tion  term  of  service. 
Baer,  Abraham,  "  ' 

term  of  service. 
Brown,  Jacob,  "  " 

term  of  service. 

Bogue,  George,  "         „    " 

Bradley,  John  W., 

of  the  South. 
Cooper,  Edward,  "  " 

Certificate. 
Croley,  Richard,  "  " 

Department. 
Crawford,  William  B.,        "  " 

term  of  service. 
Cerasolle,  Octave,  "  " 

term  of  service. 
Clark,  Linus  M., 

quarters,  Department  of  the  South. 
Douglass,  George,  "  " 

Eldridge,  Stephen,  "  " 

Fingan,  Byron, 
Flanney,  Thomas,  "  " 

Department. 

Geibel,  George,  "  " 

Greer,  James,  "  " 

Hanns,  Frederick,  " 

Howland,  George  W.,        "  " 

Hopkins,  Albert,  "  " 

Department. 
Reamey,  Michael,  "  " 

Department. 

Lelitener,  Albert,  "  " 

tificate. 


Vol.  recruit,  June  26,  1865,  by  expira- 
"  May  21,  1865,  by  expiration 
"  May  16,  1865,  by  expiration 

"     May  4,  1865,  by  order  W.D. 
"    June,  1865,  by  order  Dept. 

"     Aug.  12,  1865,  on  Surgeon's 
"     May  4,  1865,  by  order  War 
"     May  28,  1865,  by  expiration 
Nov.  9,  1865,  by  expiration 
June  17, 1865,  by  order  Head- 
Expiration  term  of  service. 

u  a  u 

i  a  «  u 

May  16,  1865,  by  order  War 
Expiration  term  of  service. 

((  it  li 

It  U  K 

a  (i  u 

Dec.  20,  1865,  by  order  War 
May  15,  1865,  by  order  War 
June  20, 1865,  Surgeon's  cer- 


Mark,  Frank, 

partment. 
Maynard,  William  M 

ficate. 
Mason,  John  N.. 

Department. 
Murphy,  -Michael, 

partment. 
Newhouse,  Morris, 

Department. 
Parker,  George, 
Peavey,  Stephen  R., 

mentof  the  South. 
Pendergrast,  John, 

ment. 

Regan,  Andrew, 
Phule,  John, 
Rowen,  Charles, 
Schaffer,  John, 
Schue,  Nicholas, 
Sheer,  Martin, 
Schlosser,  Antoine, 
Smith,  Patrick, 

1865. 

Urbaine,  Charles,    • 
Wagner,  Albert  L., 
White.  Edward, 
Wilson,  August, 


335 

Private;  discharged  June  15,  1865,  by  order  War  De- 
"  Feb.  13,  1865,  by  Surgeon's  certi- 

"  May  15,   1865,  by  order  of  War 

"  May  15, 1865,  by  order  of  War  De- 

"  May   15,   1865,  by  order  of  War 


on   Surgeon's  certificate,  Nov.  5,  1864. 
June  17,  1865,  by  order  of  Depart- 

May  15, 1865,  by  order  of  War  Depart- 
Expiration  term  of  service. 


July  31,  1865,  by  Surgeon's  certificate. 
Aug.  15,  1865,  "  " 

Expiration  term  of  service. 
Order  War  Department,  May  15, 1865. 
Order  of  War  Department,  May  15, 

Expiration  term  of  service. 


TRANSFERRED. 

AbnerN.  Sterry,  1st  Lieutenant;  promoted  to  Captain  and  transferred  to 

Co.  E,  April  23,  1865. 

Mead,  Benjamin  L,  Private ;  transferred  to  V.  R.  C. 
Strange,  William,        "         transferred  to  V.  R.  C.   by  order  of  Provost 

Marshal  General,  Jan.  9,  1865. 


Cook,  Christopher,  Private;  died,  date  unknown. 

Geize,  Adam,  "        died  in  prison,  Salisbury,  N.  C.,  Jan  1,  1865. 

Miller,  Charles  A.        "         died  at  Annapolis,  Md.,  March  22,  1865. 
O'Connell,  Timothy,   "        died  at  Augusta,  Ga.,  July  23,  1865. 
William  Henry,  "        died  at  Sister's  Ferry,  Ga.,  May  23, 1865. 


336 


DESERTED. 

Chapman,  Lafayette,  Private ;  deserted  Jan.  10,  1865,  at  Baltimore,  Md. 
Francis,  George,  "  "  "  " 

Smith,  Thomas,  "    June,  1865,  Augusta,  Ga. 

Tinker,  Sebra  W.,  "  "     Aug.  27, 1865.  " 


COMPANY    "E"    VETERAN    BATTALION  THIRTEENTH  CONN. 
VOLUNTEERS. 

Abner  N.  Sterry,  Captain;  promoted  to  Captain  April  23, 1865. 

Herbert  C.  Baldwin,  2d  Lieutenant;  promoted  from  1st  Sergeant  Co.  C  to 

2d  Lieutenant  Co.  E,  Jan.  11,  1865. 
William  H.  Huntly,  1st  Sergeant,  Veteran  Volunteer. 
Charles  A.  Adams,  "  "  " 

George  Sperry,  "  "  " 

Joseph  Taylor,  " 

William  H.  Murphy,  Corporal. 
Francis  Patterson,  " 

Daniel  Goodwin,  "     Vol.  recruit,  Feb.  18,  1864. 

Hobby,  Brown,  " 

Michael  Huntjlnusician. 
James  H.  Evans,  wagoner. 
Bailey,  Heman  W.,         Private. 
Blakeslee,  Asahel  C., 
Brune,  John, 

Clancey,  Charles,  " 

Ango,  Ethel,  " 

DeMarche,  James,  " 

Fellow,  Jessie  B. 
Fuller,  Ethan  A.  " 

Hammond,  Seneca, 
Hunt,  Richard,  " 

Higgany,  Michael, 
Kimball,  Alvah, 
Kulverinski,  Charles, 
McDonough,  Thomas, 
Meyer,  John, 
Mitchell,  Peter, 
O'Connor,  Martin, 
O'Dell,  John, 


Vol.  recruit,  March  3,  1864. 


Never  reported  to  the  company. 


337 

Patterson,  William  A.,  Private. 

Ranney,  John', 

**  Richmond,  Charles,  " 

Rorabach,  George, 

Savage,  James,  " 

Schmidt,  William,  "     Sub.  recruit,  Aug.  5,  1864. 

Simpson,  John, 

.      Shurler,  Frank  T.  "     Sub.  recruit,  Sept.  8,  1864. 

Stuart,  Harman, 

Smith,  John,  "     Sub.  recruit,  Sept.  14,  1864,  in  confinement  at 
Milledgeville,  Ga.,  by  sentence  of  G.  C.  M. 

Thompson,  Daniel,  " 

Titus,  Sylvester,  " 

Wadham,  Frank  E.,  " 

DISCHARGED. 

William  Brennan,  Corporal;  discharged  Nov.   20,  1865,  for   disability  at 
Athens,  Ga. 

John  Blake,  "  "  June  26,  1865,  by  expiration  term 

of  service. 

John  Lannan,  musician,  June  26, 1865,  by  expiration  term 

of  service. 
•  John  W.  Aldrich,         Private;  discharged  Aug.  12,  1865,  Savannah,  Ga. 

Edward  Bingham,  "         Vet.  Vol.  discharged  May  4,  1865,  by  tele- 

grftph  order  War  Department,  A.  G.  0. 

Niram,  Blackman,      Private;  discharged  Aug.  11, 1865,  for  disability. 

Albert  R.  Blakeslee,        "  "         July  18,  1865,  for  disability. 

Patrick,  Cain,  "        Vol.   recruit,   discharged  June  26,  1865,  by 

expiration  term  of  service. 

James  Cashen,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  discharged  June  26,  1865,  by  expira 
tion  of  term  of  service. 

Martin  Duggan,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  discharged  June  26,  1865,  by  ex 
piration  term  of  service. 

Thomas  Fielder,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  discharged  June  26,  1865,  by  ex 
piration  term  of  service. 

Patrick  Hanlon,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  'discharged  June  26,  1865,   by   ex 
piration  term  of  service. 

Edward  Johnson,  Private;  discharged  May  4,  1865,  by  telegraph  order,  W. 
Department  A.  G.  0. 

John  Jordon,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  discharged  June  26,  1865,  by   expira 
tion  term  of  service. 

William  Keating,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  discharged  June  26,  1865,  by  ex 
piration  term  of  service. 

James  L.  Mason,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  discharged  Aug.  12,  1865,  by  ex 
piration  term  of  service. 

29* 


338 

Peter  G.  McGregor,  Private*;  Sub.  recruit,  discharged  Aug.  12,  1865,  by 
expiration  term  of  service. 

John  McNeil,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  discharged  Aug.  12,  1865,  by  expira 
tion  term  of  service. 

John  Mooney,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  discharged  May  4, 1865,  by  telegraph 
order. 

Sheppard,  Jackson,  Private ;  Vol.  recruit,  discharged  May  9,  1865,  for  dis 
ability. 

Bernard  Sanders,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  discharged  June  26,  1865,  by  ex 
piration  term  of  service. 

Frederick  Schultz,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  discharged  June  26, 1865,  by  ex 
piration  term  of  service. 

Henry  Smith,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  discharged  Jan.  30,  1865,  for  disabil 
ity. 

James  Surly,  Private;  Sub.  recruit,  August  12, 1865.  by  expiration  of  term 
of  service. 

David  VanBusrick,  Private ;  Vol.  recruit,  discharged  Aug.  12, 1865,  by  ex 
piration  term  of  service. 

John  Williams,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  discharged  June  26, 1865, by  expira 
tion  term  of  service. 

Henry  L.  Wright,  Private;  Vol.  recruit,  discharged  Aug.  2,  1865,  for  dis 
ability. 

TRANSFERRED. 

Everett  E.  Dawson,  1st  Sergeant;  transferred  to  Co.  A. 
George  W.  Everett,  musician;  transferred  to  Co.  B. 

DIED.  * 

Philo  Andrews,  Private;  died  Dec.  23,  1864,  Winchester,- Va. 

Willis  Barnes,  "  died  Dec.  31, 1864,  Salisbury,  N.C.,  in  enemy's 

hands. 

Francis  J.  Hunt,  "  died  Jan.  13,  1865,    DeCamp  GeneraljHospital, 

New  York. 

Merritt  Lyman,  "  died  July  20,  1865,  Post  Hospital,  Savannah. 

Joseph  H.  Pratt,  "  died  April  13,  1866,  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Homer  M.  Welch,  "  died  Dec.  27,  1864,  prisoner,  Salisbury,^.  C. 

PROMOTED. 

John  W.  Maddux,  1st  Lieutenant;  promoted  from  2d  LieutenantJ,Co.  C. 
Dismissed  the  service  by  Special  Order  No.  170,  War  Department,  A.G. 
0.,  April  13,  1866,  for  absence  without  leave. 

DESERTERS. 

Peter  Billings,        Private;  deserted  Feb.  19,  1866,  Atlanta,  Ga. 
William  Black,  "  "      July  27,  1865,  Augusta^Ga. 

Symond  Buckley,        "  "      Aug.  26,  1864,  New  Haven,  Conn. 


339 


Emile  Chauvin,     Private ;  deserted  Oct.  10, 1865,  Gainsville,  Ga. 

Edwin  Everett,           "               "  Aug.  26,  1864,  New  Haven,  Conn. 

Chancey  Griffin,         "               "  Aug.  26, 1864,  New  Haven,  Conn. 

Joseph  Goodblood,      "               "  Oct.  10,  1865,  Gainsville,  Ga. 

William  Kimball,        "               "  Oct.  29,  1864,  New  Haven,  Conn. 

Gotlieb,  Kenich,          "               "  Feb.  19,  1866,  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Arthur  Lannun,          "                "  Oct.  10,  1865,  Gainsville,  Ga. 

Egbert  Sweburgh,      "               "  Aug.  26,  1864,  New  Haven,  Conn. 

Charles  E.  Margum,    "                "  Oct.  10,  1865,  Gainsville,  Ga. 
Frederick  W.  Finder,  Private;  deserted  Aug.  26,  1864,  New  Haven  Ct. 

James  Remmington,  "  July  10,  1864,  New  Orleans,  La. 

James  H.  Rorabach,  "  "            Feb.  19, 1866,  Atlanta,  Ga. 

Calvin  G.  Sheppard,  "  "            Feb.  19,  1866,  Atlanta,  Ga. 

John  Wilson,  "  "            Jan.  5,  1865,  Harper's  Ferry,  Va. 


THE  SLAVE  GIRL  CAROLINE.* 

In  the  last  part  of  May,  1862,  Chaplain  Salter,  13th  C.V., 
came  to  the  writer  and  earnestly  besought  him  to  save  the 
slave  girl  Caroline  from  being  restored  to  her  master.  His 
sympathies  were  much  enlisted  in  behalf  of  the  girl,  who  ap 
peared  to  have  been  cruelly  treated,  and  who  had  fled  to  us 
for  freedom.  Caroline  was  accordingly  appointed  a  laun 
dress  of  Co.  H,  and  being  thus  in  government  employ,  was 
considered  tolerably  safe  from  the  slave  hunters. 

It  was  not  long  before  several  men  in  pursuit  of  the  run 
away  came  to  the  writer,  and  at  the  same  time  an  order  was 
presented  to  him  through  intermediate  commanders,  of  which 
the  following  is  a  copy  : 

NEW  CUSTOM  HOUSE, 

New  Orleans,  May  30,  1863. 

Colonel: 

The  General  directs  that  you  send  for  Captain  Sprague, 
Co.  H,  13th  Regt.  Connecticut  Volunteers,  and  inform  him 
that  the  negress  "  Caroline,"  that  he  now  has  in  his  service 
is  the  property  of  a  poor  man  whose  wife  is  sick  in  bed,  and 
needs  this  negress  for  a  nurse.  He  directs  further  that  an 
appeal  be  made  to  Capt.  Sprague's  humanity  that  he  may 
drive  her  put,  so  that  she  may  return  to  'her  master,  Mr. 
Benedict. 

Yours,  &c., 

G.  WEITZEL, 

Lt.  U.  S.  Eng. 
Col.  N.  A.  M.  Dudley,  30th  Mass. 

*See  page  59. 


.       342 

The  writer  replied  to  these  gentlemen,  one  of  whom  was 
Mr.  Benedict,  the  master  of  the  girl,  that  he  was  not  willing 
to  deliver  her  up ;  and  that  he  would  give  his  reasons  in 
writing.  He  accordingly  wrote  out  and  sent  to  Mr.  Benedict 
the  original  of  the  following  letter  : 

NEW  CUSTOM  HOUSE, 

New  Orleans,  Maj  31,  1862. 
Mr.  Benedict —  Claimant  of  the  slave  girl  "  Caroline  :" 

Sm: 

I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that,  agreeably  to  my 
promise,  I  have  investigated  the  case  of  the  slave  girl 
"  Caroline." 

The  order  of  the  General  was,  "  that  Capt.  Sprague  be 
sent  for  and  informed  that  the  negress  Carolipe  is  the  prop 
erty  of  a  poor  man,  whose  wife  is  sick  in  bed,  and  needs  this 
negress  for  a  nurse."  The  General  "  further  directs  that  an 
appeal  be  made  to  Capt.  Sprague's  humanity  that  he  may 
drive  her  (Caroline)  out,  so  that  she  may  return  to  her  mas 
ter,  Mr.  Benedict." 

Now,  Mr.  Benedict,  if  I  understand  the  recent  enactment 
of  my  government,  which  has  been  made  one  of  the  Articles 
of  War,  forbidding  military  officers  to  deliver  fugitive  slaves 
to  their  masters,  on  penalty  of  being  cashiered,  I  have  no 
right  to  return,  or  aid  in  returning,  Caroline  to  you,  either 
directly  or  indirectly. 

"  Property  "  is  out  of  the  question.  It  is  immaterial,  in 
the  eye  of  the  law,  whether  a  white  man  pretencfs  to  own  a 
black,  or  a  black  pretends  to  own  a  white.  I  must  not  deliver 
Caroline  to  you  :  neither  should  I  deliver  you  to  Caroline. 

This  United  States  law  makes  no  exception  in  the  case  of 
"  poor  "  masters.  No  ;  not  even  if  the  "  poor  man's  wife  is 
sick  in  bed,  and  needs  the  negress  as  a  nurse." 

Nor  does  this  United  States  law,  which  we  have  sworn  ta 
obey,  make  any  exception  on  grounds  of  "  humanity  ;"  possi 


343 

bly  because  it  might  be  difficult  to  decide  between  counter 
appeals  to  the  officer's  humanity  in  such  cases.  For  instance, 
this  girl  appeals  to  my  humanity  to  save  her  from  you,  and 
you  appeal  to  my  humanity  to  "  drive  her  out ;" — she  a 
young  and  helpless  girl,  innocent  of  any  crime,  pleading 
with  me  to  save  her  from  hopeless  and  perpetual  slavery ; 
and  you  "  a  poor  man,  with  a  sick  wife,"  and  in  need  of  this 
girl's  unpaid  toil,  and  the  money  which  you  might  coin  out 
of  her  body  and  soul,  if  you  could  only  keep  her  degraded 
and  enslaved,  or  sell  her  for  labor  or  breeding  or  lust ! 

You  see  the  law  decides  the  case  for  me  ;  making  it  a 
serious  offense  to  aid  or  abet  in  delivering  Caroline  to  you, 
and  coinciding  with  that  earlier  and  higher  law  recorded  in 
Holy  Writ,  Deuteronomy  xxiii,  15  :"  Thou  shalt  not  deliver 
unto  his  master ,<he  servant  which  is  escaped  from  his  master 
unto  thee."  Both  statutes  I  recommend  for  your  perusal. 
HOMER  B.  SPRAGUE, 

Capt.  Co.  H,  13th  Regt. 

Conn.  Vols. 

Mr.  Benedict,  upon  receipt  of  the  above  document,  of 
course  started  off  to  lay  it  before  General  Butler.  Accord 
ingly,  the  writer  had  the  honor  of  being  summoned  into  that 
officer's  presence  on  the  second  of  June ;  when  the  following 
conversation  occurred  : 

Gen.-«-"  Are  you  Captain  Sprague  ?" 

S.— « I  am." 

Gen. — "  How  many  servants  have  you  ?" 

S.— "  One." 

Gen. — "  What  is  her  name  ?" 

S. — "  His  name  is  Wendell  Phillips,  alias  Alexander. 

Gen. — "  Have  you  not  a  female  servant  ?" 

S. — "  Not  here." 

Gen. — "  Have  you  not  a  colored  girl  in  your  employ 
named  Caroline  ?" 

S. — "  I  have  a  company  laundress  of  that   name.     I  un- 


344 

derstand,  General,  what  you  are  driving  at.  She  is  regu 
larly  employed  as  laundress  and  is  very  much  needed  by  us. 
Besides,  she  is  an  intelligent,  smart  girl,  anxious  foi?  her  free 
dom,  and  she  has  been  cruelly  treated  by  her  mistress." 

Gen. — «I  don't  look  at  this  matter  in' a  humanitarian  light 
at  all.  I  look  at  it  simply  as  a  military  question.  Now,  sir, 
you  say  in  this  note  to  Mr.  Benedict  that  the  law  of  Con 
gress,  one  of  the  Articles  of  War,  forbids  you  to  deliver 
fugitive  slaves  to  their  masters.  There  are  the  Army  Regu 
lations  [pointing  to  a  blue-covered  book].  I  require  you, 
sir,  at  your  peril,  to  point  out  that  law." 

S. — General,  this  book  was  published  last  August  [1861]  ; 
but  this  law  was  passed  this  spring.  Of  course  it's  not 
there." 

Then  followed  a  long  discussion,  in  which  the  general  did 
most  of.  the  talking,  adducing  a  great  many  considerations  to 
show  that  it  would  be  best  to  give  up  the  slave  to  her  master. 
The  captain  vehemently  insisted  that  it  would  be  a  violation 
of  his  conscience  and  of  the  law  of  Congress  to  comply ;  and 
finally  the  general  requested  him  to  procure  a  statement  of 
the  facts  from  Chaplain  Salter,  and  a  copy  of  the  law  of 
Congress.  The  captain  consented,  and  the  interview  termi 
nated  pleasantly. 

Next  day  the  writer  sent  to  the  General  the  following  com 
munication  : 

NEW   CUSTOM  HOUSE, 

New  Orleans,  June  3,  1862. 
General : 

Agreeably  to  your  request,  I  send  inclosed  the  statement  of 
the  chaplain  of  our  Regiment  in  reference  to  the  slave 
"  Caroline."  I  also  take  the  liberty  of  inclosing  a  copy, 
clipped  from  the  New  York  Evening  Post,  of  the  proceed 
ings  of  Congress,  April  1,  1862,  in  which  the  fact  of  the 
passage  and  approval  of  the  anti -slave-deli very  enactment, 


345 

as  one  of  the  Articles  of  War,  is  distinctly  recognized.  In 
one  of  the  New  York  papers,  published  during  the  latter 
part  of  last  March,  I  saw  the  enactment  in  full ;  and  I  doubt 
not  it  was  given  in  all  the  leading  journals  of  the  North. 
Many  of  my  fellow  officers  rejoiced  with  me  at  the  time  in 
the  belief  that  slave-hunting  by  military  men  was  forever 
ended. 

Soon  after  leaving  you  yesterday,  I  received  a  visit  from 
the  girl's  mistress,  whose  "  sickness  in  bed "  appears  to 
have  been  of  very  brief  duration  !  She  told  me  Caroline 
was  twenty  years  old  at  the  time  she  bought  her,  some 
months  ago,  and  was  so  described  in  the  bill  of  sale.  She 
also  said  Caroline  was  a  very  excellent  washer  and  ironer. 
Said  they  paid  twelve  hundred  dollars  for  her,  which  was 
almost  half  of  their  property. 

Now,  General,  we  very  much  need  the  services  of  these 
laundresses.  Many  of  our  soldiers  are  debilitated  by  this 
climate,  and  it  is  a  most  welcome  relief  to  have  this  work 
transferred  to  more  skillful  hands ;  besides  contributing 
greatly  to  increased  cleanliness,  comfort  and  health.  If  one 
is  to  be  taken  from  us,  why  not  another,  and  another,  and 
all? 

The  objection  which  you  made  to  their  (or  Caroline's)  re 
tention,  on  the  ground  of  the  difficulty  of  preventing  im 
proper  intercourse  between  our  soldiers  and  these  women,  is 
entirely  obviated  by  the  working  of  the  wise  plan  you  your 
self  suggested  and  directed  us  to  adopt,  in  our  interview, 
May  27th;  by  which  these  women  are  almost  completely  iso 
lated  from  the  world.  Their  seclusion  is  unbroken  by  any 
male  person,  except  momentarily  for  the  transmission  of 
laundry  articles  or  rations.  Whatever  may  have  been  their 
habits  at  home — obliged  to  submit  of  course  to  their  masters' 
lusts,  as  you  told  us  in  that  interview — they  are  necessarily 
virtuous  in  their  conduct  here,  and  are  likely  to  continue  so 
while  in  this  service. 

30 


346 

I  regret  exceedingly  that  this  vexatious  question  has  been 
added  to  your  innumerable  cares  ;  but  I  have  the  satisfac 
tion  of  believing  that  when  I  was  regimental  officer  of  the 
day  last  week,  no  slave-hunter  disturbed  you ;  unless  he 
smuggled  himself  within  our  lines  by  false  pretenses,  or  ex 
hibited  a  written  order  of  admission  from  some  proper  autho 
rity.  My  answer  to  their  importunities  (and  they  came  by 
scores)  was,  that  if  they  had  all  along  been  loyal,  the  United 
States  government  would,  in  my  opinion,  by  and  by  make 
compensation  for  the  loss  ;  otherwise,  not  ;  and  they  must 
wait  in  patience. 

Pardon  me,  General,  for  occupying  so  much  of  your  pre 
cious  time.  No  man  entertains  a  higher  respect  for  you 
than  I,  or  more  cordially  approves  of  your  general  military 
policy  ;  and  I  have  always  been  accustomed  to  express  my 
admiration  in  regard  to  you  and  it  in  terms  little  short  of  en 
thusiasm,  and  to  consider  myself  truly  fortunate  in  having 
the  privilege  to  serve  under  you.  But  that  would  be  the 
saddest  day  of  my  life,  when  my  strongest  convictions  of 
right  and  duty  should  be  violated  by  a  superior  officer  com 
manding  me  to  deliver  virtually  a  fugitive  slave  to  his  or  her 
pretended  owner.  I  beg  you,  General,  to  save  yourself  from 
further  annoyance  in  such  matters,  and  to  spare  my  own 
feelings  by  dismissing  this  application  of  the  master  and  mis 
tress  of  "  Caroline ;"  and  allow  me  to  subscribe  myself  ever 
as  now,  with  the  highest  respect, 

Your  obedient  servant, 

HOMER  B.  SPRAGUE, 
Capt.  Co.  H,  13th  Regt.  Conn.  Vols. 

This  was  accompanied  with  the  following  statement  of 
facts  by  Chaplain  Salter : 

"  On  Monday,  May  26th,  a  lady  came  into  the  Custom 
House  with  her  son,  to  look  for  a  fugitive  from  her  service. 
I  overheard  the  following  conversation  between  the  lady  and 
the  girl  that  had  fled  from  her. 


347 

Lady. — General  Butler  has  permitted  me  to  come  and  see 
if  you  are  here.  I  want  you,  Carrie,  to  come  home  with 
me.  I  have  always  been  kind  to  you — have  given  you  a 
nice  bed — have  let  you  visit  on  Sundays.  It  is  ungrateful 
in  you  to  leave  me.  You  will  be  separated  from  your  moth 
er  if  you  stay. 

Girl. — You  have  treated  me  badly.  You  have  beaten  my 
mother  over  her  head  with  a  pan.  I  would  rather  stay  and 
be  free  than  see  my  mother  again.  I*  will  not  trust  going 
back.  You  know  you  will  be  cruel  to  me.  You  can't  take 
me  from  here. 

The  lady  then  told  the  girl  that  she  promised  to  be  kind, 
and  added,  with  tears,  *  you  know  I  cannot  afford  to  lose 
you.' 

The  girl  replied. — I  know  you  cannot,  but  I'll  not  go  back. 
There  was  nothing  insolent  in  the  girl's  language.  Her 
words  and  manner  indicated  that  she  resolutely  preferred  her 
present  condition,  and  supposed  that  once  within  our  lines 
she  was  in  no  danger  of  being  returned. 

After  the  lady  went,  the  girl  stated  that  since  the  entrance 
of  the  Yankees  into  the  city  she  had  suffered  much  bad 
treatment.  That  having  failed  to  raise  a  batch  of  bread, 
she  was  threatened  with  twenty-five  lashes  by  her  master. 
These  lashes  she  escaped,  she  said,  by  running  away. 

I  heard  the  lady  testify  that  Caroline  was  twenty  years  of 
age  ;  was  a  good  washer  and  ironer. 
C.  C.  SALTER, 

Chaplain  13th  Conn.  Vols." 

On  the  back  of  the  foregoing  statement  Gen.  Butler  wrote  : 

"  Upon  this  statement  let  Caroline  be  retained  as  a  Laun 
dress.  B.  F.  BUTLER." 


GKENERAL    INDEX. 


Abbot,  Lieut.  -     - 

Abolition  Regiment, 

Aldrich,  Sergeant 

Alexandria,  La. 

Arsenal,  Augusta,  Ga.,    - 

Atchafalaya, 

Athens,  Ga., 

Atlanta, 

Averill,  Capt.      - 

Avery,  Dr.      * 

Augusta,  Ga., 

Banks,  Gen. 

Baldwin,  Lieut. 

Baton  Rouge, 

Bayous,   - 

Beaton,  Lieut. 

Beecher,  Lieut. 

Berryville,  Battle      - 

Beckwith,  Capt. 

Bissell,  Col. 

Birge,  H.  W. 

Bishop,  Lieut. 

Black,  Private,  killed,    - 

Blinn,  Col.    - 

Bomb- Proof, 

Bradley,  Capt. 

Brashear  City,    - 

Bragg,  Rebel  General, 

Brown,  John, 

Bromley,  Q.  M., 

Buckingham,  Gov. 

Burglars, 

Butler,  Gen. 

Cane  River,  Battle    - 

Caroline, 

30* 


PAGE. 

23,  24 

60 

-    139 

-  127,  188,  203 

252,  256 
129,  131 

-  -  -     253 

-  -          258 
22,  184,  192,  221 

69 
250,  &c. 

-  97,  &c. 

253,  258 

-  97,  106 
80,  107,  188,  132  &c. 

23,  117,  156 

-  21 
222,  223 

27,  28,  257,  143 

101,  111 

11,  &c. 

-     17,  119 

-  -  -       88 

-  21,  69,125,  &c. 

-  146 
21,  107,  112,  &c. 

108,  176 
94 

-     53,  57,  221 
13,  60,  93, 100,  105,  130,  185,  &c. 

-  29 
57 

68,  34,  51,  52,  54,  57,  &c. 
193,  &c. 

-  59,  and  Appendix. 


350 


Cattle  seized,  -                                               -       70,  71 

Cedar  Creek,  Battle  ...                                 '.-          237,  &c. 

Cemeteries,  •                                                           »•       -     98 

Charge  of  13th  C.  V.  -                                               .  -        90,  115,  196,  228 

Clarke,  J.  F.,  -                                                              25,  90,  100 

Clarke,  L.  W.    -  18,  19,  179,  217,  &o. 

Clary,  Surgeon         ...  15,  16,  84,  128,  136,  &c. 

Comings,  Surgeon  ...                                                          15 

Comstock,  Major      -  -    20,  21,  69,  &c. 

Cornwall,  Captain  -                                    r        20,  68,  80,  91,  100,  &c. 

Dandy  Regiment      -  -    32,  216 

Dardan,  Captain  182,  185,  186 

Daniels,  Lieut.          ...  -            -                                    185 

Day,  Colonel       -  -      157 

DeForest,  Captain  -  -      156,  93 

Deming,  Lieut.  23,  106 

Dreaming  of  Rebels,  -    98,  176 

Dunn,  Sergeant,  ••           -      228 

Dutch  John,  168 

Election,  Connecticut  -                                                                         101,  236 

Explosion,    -  -         95,  104,  118 

Farragut,  Admiral,  -                                                                         101,  132 

Finley,  Capt.  -       24,  25,  125,  129,  209 

Fisher,  Surgeon  -        16 

Fisher's  Hill,  Battle  -        233,  234,  237 

Flag  Presentation,  -                                                                            72,  73 

Foraging,      -  18,  70,  94 

Fort  Jackson,    -  47,  49 

Free  Fight,  -     131,  256 

Fuller,  Capt.  23,  70,  119,  132,  137 

Funeral  at  Sea,  39 

Gardner,  William  C.  -                                                                  27,  233,  248 

Georgia  Landing,  Battle     -  -      80,  &c. 

Gilbert,  Capt.    -  24,  25 

Gold  Lace  Dudley,  -        186,  190,  191 

Grand  Ecore,  189,  &c. 

Graves,  Lieut.  -        22,  23 

Grosvenor,  Adjutant  -                                                              13,  94, 123, 125 

Guerillas,  18,  178,  189,  &c. 

Hall,  Leonidas,  72,  115 

Hand- Grenades,  -    150,  &c. 

Holcomb,  Major  "   -         12,  13,  151,  &c. 

Hoyle,  The  rule  in  71 

Hull,  Ezra          -  -        97 


351 


PAGE. 

Huntley,  William  H.  139 
Irish  Bend,  Battle  -  -  -  -  .  110,  111,  112,  &c. 
Johnson,  Lieut.  -  •  -  16, 95 
Kinney,  Lieut.  27,  29,  107,  119,  184, 196,  205. 
Labadieville,  Battle  -  80,  81,  &c. 
Let  me  skedaddle !  •  -  -  189 
Lucinda,  obeyed  and  respected,  -  184 
Mail,  captured  by  Rebels,  -  -  208 
Mansura  Plains,  Battle  -  .-  211, 212,  &c. 
Maryland !  My  Maryland !  -  -  249 
Marksville,  Battle  -  -  208,  209,  &c. 
Mayne,  George  -  22,  72 
McClellan,  Dr.  -  -  18 
McCord,  Capt.  -  -  23,  63,  125,  181 
McDonough,  Tom  -  125 
Meredith,  Lieut.  -  -  22 
Meissner,  Lieut.  -  -  26, 125, 199, 201 
Merwin,  Charlie  -  .  -  -  159,  162 
Middletown,  Victory,  -  -  238,  &c. 
Midnight  Bombardment,  -  103,  104,  (fee- 
Mississippi,  Sloop-of-war  Blown  up,  -  103 
Miscegenation,  -  73 
Mitchell,  Capt.  -  27,  70,  125,  134 
Molineux,  Col.  -  182,  &c. 
Monets  Ford,  Battle  -  195,  &c. 
Morgariza,  -  214,  &c. 
Mumford,  Rebel  "  Martyr,"  -  57 
Negroes,  -  67,  92,  107,  140,  &c. 
Nettleton,  Lieut.  -  21,  22 
New  Orleans,  -  48,  &c. 
Night  Attacks,  -  -  144,  &c. 
Noise  of  Shot,  &c.  -  -  -  -  142 
Nugent,  Private,  -  -  184 
Opequan  Creek,  Battle,  -  ..,  -  225,  &c. 
Parton,  James,  -  -  -  ,  -  .  -  .  31, 72 
Pass  Manchac,  Battle  .  -  •  -  -  69 
Perfect  Love,  A  drink,  -  -  .  182 
Perkins,  Capt.  129,  134,  247,  258 
Phelps,  General,  -  -  -  --  .  -  -  -  27,  46,  47 
Pineville,  204,  &c. 
Polignac,  Prince,  -  ..-  -  .  -  -  209,  213 
Polk,  Rebel  General  -  -  "94 
Port  Hudson,  Battle?,  -  _  101,  131,  &c. 
Pratt,  Lieut.  -  -  253 


352 


PAGE. 

Presentations,  72,  73, 182 

Prince  of  Darkness,        -  -             -    65 

Prindle,  Capt.  22 

Prisoners,  Eebel  -    171 

Eailroad  Superintendant  and  Bromley,       -  -      75, 76 

Eats,  Head-of-the-wharf,  33,  34 

Recruits  in  New  Orleans,     -  55 

Bed  Eiver  Campaign,  189,  191,  &o. 

Eeynolds,  Sergeant,  killed,  -                                                          201 

Eiot  in  Athens,  Ga.,         -  -    256 

Salter,  Chaplain        -  -    14,  29,  30,  58 

Sand  Beach,  Battle,         -  -    109 
Schleiter,  Capt, 

Scientific  Supper  by  Bromley,  - 

Secession  Beauty,    -  ...   130,  131 

Shenandoah,        -  -                                               -        220,  &c. 

Sheridan,  General    -  -  224,  &c. 

Sherman,  T.  W.,  General  -    140 

Sherman,  W.  T.,  Gen.,  schoolmaster,        -  205 

Sidder,  McGrath,  and  Eobinson,  -    139 

Ship  Island,  -    43,  &c. 

Shooting,  Reprieve,        -  -     58 

Simsport,      -  -        129, 213,  &c. 

Slavery,  -         46,  49,  59,  63, 65,  &c. 

Small  Pox,  29,  249 

Smith,  A.  J.,  General     -  202,  203,  &c. 

Snakes,  &c.,  -    127,  &c. 

Sprague,  H.  B.  25,  &c. 

Sterry,  Capt.  27,  253,  258 

Stanley,  Lieut.  Fred.     -  -         I88?  &c. 

Stanley,  Frank,        -  -     20,  119 

Sterry,  Capt.  27,  253,  258 

St.  Mary's  Cannoniers,        -  -  H3,  118 

Strickland,  Lieut.  -      26,  119,  138,  147 

Storming  Columns,  -     167,  161,  167, 171,  251 
Sunday  Assaults, 
Sutlers'  Pedigree,    - 

Thanksgiving,  celebrated,  96>  9? 

Thibodaux,  92>  93>  &c- 

Thompson,  Jeff.,  drunk,  &c.,  - 

Thompson,  Lieut.    -  27,  33,  34 

Tibbits,  Lieut.     -  -  21,  100, 107 

Tisdale,  Capt.  22,  23,  81,  68,  &c. 

Tobias,  Lieut.      -           -  ^                                                             25,  62 


353 


Torrance,  Sergeant,  killed,  - 

Tucker,  Sergeant,  killed, 

Twelfth  Connecticut, 

Twenty-fifth  Connecticut, 

Twenty-fourth  Connecticut, 

Undress  Parade  of  Co.  K. 

Upson,  Chaplain, 

Vermillion  Bayou,  battle, 

Veteran  Battalion, 

Veteran   Volunteers, 

Voting  Under  Fire,    - 

Ward,  Eugene, 

Warner,  Colonel 

Washington,  La. 

Weitzel,  Gen. 

Wells,  Capt. 

Wheeler,  Lieut. 

Whicher,  Eebel, 

Whittlesey,  Adjutant, 

Whittlesey,  Sergeant, 

Wills  made, 

Winchester,  Victory, 

Winslow,  Color-Sergeant,  killed,    - 

Woodruff,  Lieut. 

Woman  in  White,    - 

Yazoo,  steamer, 

Yellow  Bayou,  battle, 

Yelpertrechers,  mode  of  catching, 

Young,  Captain,  mortally  wounded, 

Zouaves  and  Gen.  Phelps, 


PAGE. 

-  24,  138 
.  -    255 

-  27,  82, 140,  &c- 

105,  111 

148 

33,  34 

17,  18,  94,  105,  &c. 

123,  127 

244,  &c. 

183,  218,  &c. 

236 

22,  139,  143 

-  11,  &c. 
124,  125,  &c. 

74,  83,  &c. 
26,  27,  117,  126,  132,  243,  &c. 

-  27,  95 
134,  135,  136 

16,  130,  136 

-  22 
165 

225,  £c. 
243 

-    *       -  -   '          20,  39 

133 

-  246. 
213 

-  253 
199 

47: 


FINIS. 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 
LOAN  DEPT. 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


11  1M     r-         in 

7rt 

JUN  5     19 

79 

&CB,  mrs     W9 

LD  21A-50m-8,'57 
(C8481slO)476B 

General  Library 
University  of  California 
Berkeley 

M198521 


5 


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